Laboravy - man of the moment

Preah Khan's scorers in the cup final, Sam El Nasa (left) and Khuon Laboravy

The celebrations begin as Preah Khan receive the Hun Sen Cup from Kep Chuktema

I recovered face by predicting the winners of both today's Hun Sen Cup Final and yesterday's 3rd place play-off, but to be honest, it didn't take a genius to work it out. Naga proved that old heads do win trophies, if only it's the third place cheque rather than silverware, whilst Preah Khan Reach proved a bit too strong for the students of BBU today, as predicted. It was left to the competition's leading scorer Khuon Laboravy to fittingly add the final nail in the BBU coffin after Sam El Nasa had given the Military Police-backed side the lead on 35 minutes. El Nasa was johnny-on-the-spot after Sos Proshim spilled a shot from Tum Saray and the national team striker made no mistake from eight yards out. The veteran striker looked certain to have netted a second a minute before the break when Lay Raksmey's pinpoint cross landed on his forehead, but uncharacteristically, he nodded it inches wide and BBU went into the break just a goal down and with a fighting chance. Five minutes into the 2nd half and BBU's best chance came and went when Chan Sokunthina had his shot stopped by Ouk Mic and his follow up shot rebounded off the cross-bar, after that it was all PKR. Most of the offensive action came through Laboravy. He's always a danger on the break, though today he looked a little under-par until the 76th minute when he ghosted into the near post to head in a Prak Mony Udom corner and seal PKR's cup success. It was his 22nd goal of the competition and a well-deserved Golden Boot award awaited him at the final whistle. That was it, bar the shouting and celebrations as referee Thong Chankethya blew for full-time and the first Hun Sen Cup success for the in-form PKR team. Lifting the cup will give them bags of confidence ahead of the new season as the governor of Phnom Penh, Kep Chuktema, handed over the medals, winner's cheque and cup to the winning team.
An unexpected sight was the appearance of Srey Veasna on the pitch for BBU. Last season he played for Phnom Penh Crown before joining Thai third tier team Loei City, so to see him turn up for the cup final and get a game was a surprise to say the least. Presumably, he's broken his contract with Loei (who he played for last week), completed his international transfer certificate and signed-on for BBU before the expiry of the cup registration deadline, which was about two months ago. If he didn't fulfil those criteria there's no way he should've been playing in today's game. If BBU had won, I would've been very interested in what PKR had to say about it.

The PKR starting line-up, 2-nil cup final winners

The students of BBU were found wanting at the final hurdle

Referee Thong Chankethya manages to compete the toss-up without booking anyone

The two fashion-conscious coaches shake hands after the final whistle. Left is Rith Dikar and right is BBU's Meas Sam OeurnMan of the moment and top scorer with 22 goals, Khuon Laboravy, faces the television cameras

PKR's successful coach Rith Dikar answers the press

Another opportunity to celebrate their cup success for PKR

Cup fever

It's the final of the Hun Sen Cup tomorrow (Saturday) with the favourites Preah Khan Reach taking on Build Bright United at 3pm at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh. I predict a win for PKR, who have begun the season like a runaway train with Khuon Laboravy in particular, on fire with 21 goals to-date. BBU beat Phnom Penh Crown and the Army en route to the final and will have their tails up but on paper, they aren't quite strong enough. A lot will depend on the return of their midfield playmaker Chhun Sothearath, who PKR will look to negate, whilst BBU will seek to manacle Laboravy, probably with a man-to-man marking job for one of their defensive team like Tuy Sam. The 3rd place play-off takes place this afternoon (Friday) at the stadium, at 3pm, when the Army meet Naga Corp. I would sense that Naga will bust a gut to recover from their inept showing last week against PKR by claiming third spot.
Stop Press... Naga Corp claimed 3rd place with a 1-nil victory over the Army at Olympic Stadium this afternoon. Kop Isa scored the only goal of the game two minutes before half-time.

Students join PKR in final

The students of BBU will meet Preah Khan in the cup final (pic Tep Phany)

The 2nd semi-final today went to extra-time and was a much closer affair that the first semi that saw Preah Khan walk over Naga. PKR will now meet Build Bright United in the Hun Sen Cup Final on Saturday 12 March after BBU managed to overcome the Army, who were hell-bent on retaining the cup they won last year. Oum Chandara opened the scoring in the 8th minute for a suspension-ravaged BBU before the Army's Phuong Soksana popped up ten minutes from the end of regulation time, to send the tie into extra-time. On 100 minutes Chan Veasna netted the winner from thirty yards to send the ecstatic students through to the final for the 1st time, with Army's Pheak Rady getting his marching orders for a rash challenge in time added on, after referee Kuong Ly had cautioned 7 other players.

PKR go through

Sok Rithy stood tall in defence and netted one of the PKR goals in their 4-nil win

I think I'll ignore any sneaking feelings I have in future after Preah Khan Reach swept away Naga Corp in the first of the Hun Sen Cup semi-finals, making a mockery of my pre-match prediction. Preah Khan will be cock-a-hoop after their 4-0 success with Golden Boot awardee Khuon Laboravy netting twice in the 2nd half after goals from Sam El Nasa and Sok Rithy had given them the interval lead. It was a pretty dull affair but you won't find PKR worrying too much about that. To be honest I kept nodding off during the game and it was all PKR after Sam El Nasa bent down low to head in a Tum Saray cross after just three minutes. Naga made two changes before the interval but to no avail as Sok Rithy headed PKR two-up three minutes before the interval, nodding in a Prak Mony Udom free-kick. Khuon Laboravy had a quiet first-half but he came alive after the break as Naga got tired and left themselves exposed at the back. Lay Raksmey sent Laboravy away and he whacked in his 2oth goal of the Hun Sen Cup competition on 68 minutes. Twelve minutes later he was on his bike again, outpacing everyone else and firing past Mak Theara for goal number 21. Moments earlier he had a perfectly good goal chalked off by a linesman who wasn't up with play. The final action of the day involved Rithy, who pulled back Chim Chom as he broke through, but stayed on the pitch as the referee incredulously produced only a yellow card. Naga hit the bar with the final kick of the game but by then they were well and truly demoralized and well-beaten.

The young legs of Preah Khan were simply too quick and strong in the cup semi-final

Naga Corp never got going in the semi-final against PKR

Om Thavrak leads his Naga Corp team out for the semi-final, alongside PKR's Sam El Nasa

2-goal star Khuon Laboravy meets the tv cameraMembers of the Preah Khan team salute their fans after their 4-0 success

My tips for the semis

Can 19-goal Khuon Laboravy lead PKR to success on Saturday?

The Hun Sen Cup semi-finals will be held this coming weekend with the two big guns, Preah Khan Reach and Naga Corp battling it out on Saturday (5 March) at the Olympic Stadium at 3pm. Though Preah Khan have been whacking in the goals, notably in the form of Khuon Laboravy and his personal tally of 19, in the previous rounds, I just have a sneaking feeling that the old hands at Naga will have the edge over the PKR young guns. Players like Om Thavrak, Meas Channa, Pok Chanthan and Teab Vathanak will not lie down easily and let the likes of Chea Samnang and Suon Veasna run the show. PKR will have their own veteran, Sam El Nasa, back for this game but my money is on Naga to progress. But hey, what do I know.
In the other semi, Phnom Penh Crown's conquerors in the last round, Build Bright United take on the Army on Sunday (6 March), also at 3pm. The military boys won't want to let go of the cup they won last season, but I reckon they will find it hard to put one over the students of BBU. They've got their tails up now and the Army, I think, will come out 2nd best unless Phuong Soksana has a stormer and their new keeper Oum Vichet plays a blinder. What is it with the Army and their production line of great keepers; Vichet played on Sunday and looked completely assured, whilst their other top-rated stopper Sou Yaty kept the bench warm. And don't forget they had Samreth Seiha as well last term even though he seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth this season, which is a crying shame as I've rated him the number 1 keeper in the country for the last three years.
Licking their wounds after their defeat against BBU last Saturday, Phnom Penh Crown will meet one of the other beaten quarter-finalists, Prek Pra, in a friendly match at Crown's Tuol Kork training HQ at 3pm on Sunday 6 March. Crown will be looking to put the reverse behind them as they get ready for the new Metfone C-League season that is due to start in early April, though no fixture list has been forthcoming just yet.

Army in command

The Army team led by Thong Udom, with red armband

The final tie of the weekend's Hun Sen Cup QFs saw the Army (Ministry of National Defense) put Kirivong in their place with a 4-1 success and keep alive their hopes of repeating last season's cup success. Without suspended top scorer In Vichheka, Kirivong had to reply on nippy frontman Chhaing Sophal to create havoc, which he did for a fine solo goal in the first half but he lacked support as the Army went onto dominate. I'm pretty sure he played for Kirivong last season under his Vietnamese name of Tran Cong Danh and with only Cambodian players able to play in the Hun Sen Cup, presumably he has a dual nationality passport. I forgot to mention that on Saturday BBU had wanted to play Srey Vesana, even though he is on the books of a Thai team, Loei City, for this coming season. They didn't, which avoided making a mockery of international regulations but presumably he was on holiday in Phnom Penh and fancied a game. Anyway, back to the final cup tie of the round. On 32 minutes Pheak Rady went on one of his trademark runs down the right flank and his pinpoint cross was headed in by Keo Vannak for the opener. Ten minutes later, Rady lost possession and allowed Chhaing Sophal to go one one of his mazy, weaving runs, eluding tackles before rolling it wide of the approaching keeper to level the tie. The keeper happens to be Oum Vichet who looks to be another great find by the Army team who consistently produce the best young keepers in the country.
Though the game lacked the spark of the other cup ties, the Army strengthened their grip on the match on the hour when Rady repeated his cross-on-the-run move and Vannak was again waiting to rise high and head home his second goal. Two minutes later and the result was all over bar the shouting. Touch Sokheng fed Ploung Chanthou and he squeezed his shot inside the near post. I got bored with noting all the substitutions before Chhin Chhoeurn brought me back to life with a glorious thirty yard effort that sailed into the net in the first minute of injury time to provide Army with a 4-1 success and the right to meet BBU in the semi-finals.

Kirivong missed their suspended top scorer In Vichheka

A look at the game under the weakened floodlights

Less profile please

Naga in yellow, 3-2 winners over the Police

Referees are supposed to get through a game without being noticed but in Cambodia that's rarely the case. Instead, anyone would think they wanted to be the center of attention based on their propensity to flash their colourful cards at all and sundry and to make game changing decisions that few on and off the field agree with. Thong Chankethya irritated both sides in Saturday's Crown versus BBU match, only for his colleague Yien Kivatanak, to do exactly the same the following day, as Naga Corp scraped through 3-2 over National Police Commissary. But it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who watched the C-League last season as these two referees were the busiest of the card-happy officials, with Chankethya managing to pull-off the award as the best referee of the campaign, which I must admit caused me a few chortles out loud. Anyway back to Kivatanak, who I believe is the son of one of the football federation officials, and his determination to spend his evening writing reports, having booked 7 players in the Naga and Police teams as well as giving an early bath to two Police players, Touch Pancharong and Sophal Udom. Did it impact on the result? - of course it did with the game all square at 1-1 after the end of regulation time, Naga had nosed ahead in the 2nd minute of extra-time before Pancharong was shown a straight red for kicking out at Sun Sovannrithy on 103 minutes, though at the time I thought it was accidental. Sovannrithy had moments before kicked the ball away when Kivatanak blew for a Police free-kick and Pancharong was already swinging his leg to take the kick quickly when he caught the Naga man, who went down as though he'd been shot. The referee wasted no time in flashing the red card. Afterwards, I asked Pancharong if he meant to kick the player and he said he was just trying to take a quick free-kick as his team were behind. The 2nd red card was for a 2nd cautionable offence when Sophal Udom went nose to nose with a linesman over a throw-in and Kivatanak responded to the linesman's flag-waving with a yellow card, followed by a red. At least Udom didn't hit the referee this time as he did last season.
This Hun Sen Cup quarter-final was all Naga early doors and Kop Isa opened the scoring on 34 minutes with a neat finish from Teab Vathanak's cute pass. The Police team, who will be new boys in the C-League this coming season, came close near the break but Naga kept the lead until 57 minutes when Sophal Udom's shot got a wicked deflection off a prostrate Om Thavrak and looped over the flailing arms of Mak Theara in goal for 1-1. Sun Sovannrithy got on the pitch before the leveller for his first game in months and gave the Naga attack some fresh impetus, twice going close to restoring their lead. Full-time came with the scores still level though most of the players must've been tired through all the play-acting and rolling around the floor they'd put us through in the 90 minutes. The two teams of stretcher-bearers must've been knackered. Just two minutes into extra-time, Teab Vathanak ducked low to head Meas Channa's near post cross past keeper Chanraksmey before referee Kivatanak took a hand in proceedings to issue two red cards to leave Police without a hope. That was compounded when Vathanak broke away in time added on and fed Chhim Sambo, who rounded the keeper and rolled his shot in to make it 3-1. A final flourish from the Police saw Ieng Tine lash in a drive after Long Nasy had struck the post for a consolation, only for Kivatanak to blow for full-time before the game could restart. Naga's prize for the victory is to meet Preah Khan Reach in next weekend's semi-final.

National Police Commissary lost out narrowly

Referee Yien Kivatanak concentrates on getting the pre-game toss-up correct, watched by the captains

Laboravy on song

Preah Khan Reach in all red

Everyone expected Preah Khan Reach to dominate Prek Pra Keila in the first of the Hun Sen Cup quarter-finals on Saturday and that's how it turned out after PKR finally overcame some stubborn resistance. In fact Prek Pra took the lead on 7 minutes when Sok Rithy slipped leaving Mat Hasan to cut inside his marker and fire in a bobbling shot that took a wicked bounce over the outstretched arm of Ouk Mic to give the underdogs a shock lead. They looked like carrying the advantage into the interval before Khuon Laboravy, who is making this tournament a personal goalscoring crusade, netted an equaliser on 40 minutes. PKR's Moul Daravorn caught everyone out with an early cross except Laboravy who has a nose for goal these days and he fired his drive into the roof of the net with some aplomb. There was still time for Prek Pra's Sos Souhana to blast high and wide from just eight yards as the referee blew his whistle for half-time.
PKR applied the pressure as the 2nd half began and on 57 minutes Tum Saray robbed a defender and slid the ball under the onrushing Yok Ary for their second goal. Prek Pra committed suicide by pushing too high up the pitch leaving way too much space between their last defender and the keeper, and Preah Khan exploited their defensive game plan. With 73 minutes on the clock, Saray fed Phanny Y Ratha and he lobbed his shot over Ary to put PKR firmly in the driving seat. Two more goals from Khuon Laboravy in injury time sealed the result at 5-1 in Preah Khan's favour and put him on 19 goals for the tournament, way ahead of anyone else. Suon Veasna sent Laboravy clear and he finished with the confidence of a man in form for his 2nd goal and then rounded off his hat-trick with a gorgeous half-volley after Chea Samnang's effort rebounded to him off the cross-bar. At the moment, the national team striker can do no wrong. PKR would meet the winners of the Naga v National Police game in next week's semi-final.

The youthful Prek Pra Keila teamPKR goalscorer Phanny Y Ratha

Kicking every ball

PPCFC starting line-up v BBU. [Back Row LtoR] Sophana, Tiny, Bunchhay, Dara, Sothearith [Front row] Pheng, Narong, Narith, Sokumpheak, Ratana, Chaya

Phnom Penh Crown have just signed three new players but first things first, that Hun Sen Cup quarter-final defeat against BBU on Saturday. To say everyone at the club is gutted is an understatement. Even though Crown dominated the match, enjoyed more possession and better goal opportunities, they couldn't put the cup tie to bed, even when BBU went down to 10-men, and paid a heavy price for not converting their penalty kicks. You knew exactly what it meant to BBU with all their jumping around and hollering, they never believed they could beat Crown but when Chhun Sothearath's penalty kick hit the back of the net, their wildest dreams came true. The first half of regular time was easily the highlight of the tie. Four goals and both times that Crown got their noses in front, BBU didn't give them a chance to consolidate their lead with quick-fire equalisers. A Sun Sopanha free-kick sailed inches wide and Kouch Sokumpheak's weak shot was cleared off the goal-line before Phoung Narong guided home a half-volley from the edge of the box on 12 minutes to give Crown the lead. Chan Chaya's header from Sopanha's corner was blocked and cleared only for Narong to whip his nicely-executed shot over everyone's head and into the net.

Referee Thong Chankethya was a busy man in the middle, as he usually is. He booked nine players, flashed one red card and made some crucial decisions that impacted on the cup tie, as he usually does. One of those came on 19 minutes when he adjudged Phoung Narong's ankle-tap on Heng Sokly as deliberate and Nuth Sinoun stepped up to score from the resultant penalty kick to level the scores. Crown got their noses in front again on 31 minutes when Tieng Tiny's challenge on Rim Bunhieng saw the ball spin out to Sok Pheng and he aimed a left-foot drive into the gaping net. Just two minutes later, BBU netted their second leveller when Chan Veasna's corner to the near post caught the knee of Prum Puthsethy and spun over the head of a bewildered Peng Bunchhay to rest in the Crown net. Chankethya ended the half with two more bookings, taking his first-half tally to half a dozen.

The second half of the game was devoid of action in comparison to the first. One of two major talking points came on 55 minutes when Chan Chaya went down theatrically under a challenge from In Virak in the BBU penalty area. Referee Chankethya rushed to the spot only to brandish a yellow card at Chaya, despite the protestations of his teammates. As extra-time loomed, BBU stopper Hem Simay raced out of his area, clattered into Suong Virak and left the referee with no option but to flash a red card. At least he got that one right. In extra-time, the BBU coach called his players to the touchline as one of the four floodlight pylons failed and a corner of the pitch was in semi-darkness, but order was restored after a discussion amongst the match officials, and play resumed. Kouch Sokumpheak had two chances to put Crown ahead in extra-time but was foiled by substitute keeper Sos Proshim for the first, and then powered a shot an inch past the upright two minutes from the end.

With 120 minutes failing to produce a decisive winning goal, the tie went down to penalty kicks. Here's how the drama unfolded. Tieng Tiny stepped up and arrowed his spot-kick into the bottom left-hand corner (1-0). Peng Bunchhay then saved Chan Veasna's penalty at the foot of the post but referee Chankethya made another of his game changing decisions and ordered the kick to be retaken. Veasna scored (1-1). Kouch Sokumpheak kept his cool and guided his kick into the same corner as Tiny (2-1). BBU sub Ung Marady went for power and whacked his shot in off the underside of the bar (2-2). Crown's San Narith maintained his composure and also found the corner of the net (3-2). BBU drew level again when Nhim Sovannara rifled his drive into the roof of the net (3-3). Another substitute, Suong Virak calmly stroked his spot-kick into the right-hand corner (4-3). Former Crown striker Heng Sokly then watched in despair as Bunchhay dived full length to thwart his kick (4-3). Sun Sopanha had the chance to win it for Crown but his drilled shot went straight at Proshim (4-3). Oum Chandara drew the scores level again with a well-placed drive into the corner (4-4) and the penalty drama went into sudden death. Chan Chaya needed to score to keep Crown's hopes alive but he too aimed his kick down the middle and Proshim saved easily against his former teammate (4-4). It was left to BBU skipper Chhun Sothearath to send Bunchhay the wrong way and net the winning spot-kick for his team (4-5), sparking jubilant celebrations amongst the BBU players and coaching staff that were only cut short when the stadium floodlights were switched off.

Crown line-up: Bunchhay, Dara, Narith, Sothearith (Vanthan 100), Tiny, Narong, Sopanha, Chaya, Ratana (Rathanak 77), Pheng (Virak 57), Sokumpheak. Subs not used: Visokra, Sovan, Sophat, Bunna.
Goals: Narong (12), Pheng (31). Penalties scored: Tiny, Sokumpheak, Narith, Virak.

I caught up with Crown head coach Bojan Hodak after the game and he had this to say. "I thought we started the game well. BBU can play good football but we didn't allow them to play at all. We scored both of our goals from set pieces which we have been practicing, but a lack of concentration allowed BBU back into the game on two occasions. We scored and then mentally we relaxed, and this is something we will learn from. We restricted them to two opportunities, one was the penalty from a counter-attack and the other from a corner. We were nervous in the final third and our final pass was missing from much of the game.
The 2nd half was an ugly affair, with both teams failing to find any rhythm in the final third of the pitch. We had more possession and then in extra-time, we dominated with the extra man, we had the ball all the time but a lack of movement and a poor final pass meant the game went to penalties. And with penalties, it can go either way; its down to mental strength and character. We certainly didn't perform to our best but overall we were the better team, we dominated the game, so its disappointing to go out of the cup. I don't see that it's so critical, we've made lots of changes for the new season, we still lack a little strength in depth which we will address and half of our team were affected by the national team trip to Macau, though we wish BBU well in the next round, they work hard, defend well and held on to win it at the death."

Thul Sothearith leads out the Crown team against BBU

The Crown bench moments before kick-off

Referee Thong Chankethya checking his palm as the captains face up

The BBU starting line-up with penalty hero Chhun Sothearath in the middle of the front row

Crown coach Bojan Hodak watches San Narith (yellow) and Sok Pheng warm-up

Chan Dara (yellow) and Sok Pheng in pre-match action

The Crown players acknowledge the audience before they warm-up

Naga and Army triumph

Continuing the theme of goalscorers minus their shirt, this is Keo Vannak, who netted twice for the Army against Kirivong today

The second day of quarter-finals in the Hun Sen Cup went pretty much as expected, with Naga Corp and the Army going through to set up a Naga versus Preah Khan Reach and BBU v Army semi-finals next week. For Naga, they squeezed past a depleted National Police Commissary side who finished the game with nine men and still managed to give Naga a run for their money. There was so much going on I was running out of ink in my biro. Kop Isa gave Naga the lead just after the half-hour mark with Sophal Udom levelling in the 2nd half. The game went to extra time and Teab Vathanak ducked low to head Naga in front, with sub Chhim Sambo rounding the keeper to score in time added on, only for Ieng Tine to rattle one in to leave the final score at 3-2 in Naga's favour. By that time, the Police had Touch Pancharong and Sophal Udom sent off for kicking and standing nose to nose with the linesman, respectively. Naga deserved their win and it was good to see Sun Sovanrithy back in action as he pepped up the Naga offensive when he joined the action in the 2nd half.
In the 2nd game of the day, the Army (which is preferable to the rather long-winded Ministry of National Defense) were too strong for Kirivong, who really missed their top scorer In Vichheka, out through suspension. Keo Vannak scored two identical headers, both from Pheak Rady crosses, Plong Chanthou and Chhin Chhoeurn netting the other goals as Army strolled through a pretty dull encounter to win 4-1. Kirivong's Chhaing Sophal weaved his way through to level the scores in the 1st half though I'm sure he played last season under his Vietnamese name of Tran Cong Danh. Not sure how that works as the Hun Sen Cup is for Cambodian players only. Though we had fun and games yesterday when BBU wanted to play Srey Vesana, even though he is on the books of a Thai team this season. Presumably he was on holiday in Phnom Penh and fancied a game. If Cambodia is expected to be taken seriously amongst the football fraternity, they really need to sort themselves out and do things by the book, the international one that is, not their own in-house version. More from both games in a future post.

Crown go down

Chhun Sothearath, minus his shirt, moments after scoring the winning penalty for BBU against Phnom Penh Crown

Would you Adam and Eve it? Their first big test of the new season and Phnom Penh Crown were found wanting when they came a cropper this afternoon at the hands of a cock-a-hoop Build Bright United in the Hun Sen Cup quarter-final. It went down to penalty-kicks after the two teams drew 2-2 after extra time but it was the students who kept their nerve as the pressure mounted and they edged it 5-4 to go through to the semis. Not enough hours in the day to write full match reports from yesterday's games, though I will post them later tonight; in the meantime, Preah Khan Reach put Prek Pra to the sword with a 5-1 win, with that man Khuon Laboravy netting a hat-trick to take his Hun Sen Cup tally to 19 goals. Tum Saray and Phanny Y Ratha also scored for PKR after Mat Hasan had given Prek Pra an early lead. Pretty one-sided though Prek Pra were made to pay dearly for pushing up too far and leaving themselves exposed at the back. In the 2nd match, Crown dominated possession but couldn't create enough chances, or take the ones they did create, to stamp their authority over BBU. The students defended well, rebuffed Crown's advances, held on for dear life when they went down to 10-men in regular time injury-time with the dismissal of keeper Hem Simay and won the lottery that is penalty kicks. Crown will be kicking themselves that they didn't force home their advantage and the first major shock of the cup competition is that Crown won't make the final for the 4th successive year. Crown twice went ahead through Phoung Narong and Sok Pheng but were reined in by goals from Nuth Sinoun (penalty) and Prum Puthsethy. When it came down to the penalties, Sun Sopanha and Chan Chaya had their spot-kicks saved by former Crown stopper Sos Proshim and BBU were the ones jumping around for joy when Chhun Sothearath whacked home his winning penalty and the lights at the Olympic Stadium were turned off. A lot more from both games to follow.

Looking ahead to the weekend

The quarter-finals of the Hun Sen Cup are fast approaching. With two games on Saturday and another two on Sunday, we'll soon know the semi-finalists with Phnom Penh Crown, Preah Khan, Naga and Kirivong my favourites to progress. In the 1st quarter-final, Preah Khan take on Prek Pra Keila at the Olympic Stadium at 2pm on Saturday, with Crown facing Build Bright United at 4.30pm. The next day, Naga and the Police Commissary do battle at 2pm, followed by Kirivong Sok Sen Chey's clash with the Army. The semi's will be held on 5 March and the final on Saturday 12 March, just in time for the national team to get together ahead of their three AFC Challenge Cup group games in the Maldives, that begin on 20 March.
If last season's form is anything to go by, then the tie of the quarter-finals is Crown against BBU. Both teams have made improvements to their squad in the off season with Kouch Sokumpheak spearheading the Crown attack, a winner of the Hun Sen Cup whilst with Khemara as well as collecting two Golden Boot awards as the competition's top scorer. He certainly has the pedigree to handle the big occasion, as do his experienced teammates. With Khim Borey having moved onto play in the Thai Premier League without kicking a ball in anger for Crown, Sokumpheak's likely partner is his national team colleague Sok Pheng. One face missing from the squad through injury will be the experienced campaigner Chea Virath, though its likely that Army recruit Suong Virak will get the all-clear to make his first appearance in a Crown jersey.
Crown coach Bojan Hodak is quietly confident. "We'll approach this like every other match, we take this competition very seriously and we will go out to win. BBU are one of the best teams in the cup, they finished 2nd in the league last season, so they must have good players but I'm confident that if we play up to our level, that we can win." Crown recently met BBU in a pre-season friendly with Hodak brushing aside the result; "We beat them 3-1 in a friendly but that doesn't count. I know they have good players in Bunheang, Sothearath, Puthsethy and Sinoun. However, I have confidence in my players and if we perform to our standard, we can beat anyone. We can't take anything for granted though as the cup is a tough competition because you don't have a right to an off-day or to be unlucky, or else you can get knocked out."
BBU, who led the Metfone C-League for large chunks of last season before falling to Preah Khan in the play-off semi-final, eventually claimed 3rd spot with a penalty-kick victory over Naga Corp. In the Summer they added striker Heng Sokly to their ranks, once the striker left Crown at the end of last season after netting six times. Their youthful exuberance served them well last season and they will be looking to strike an early blow against the cup favourites on Saturday.

Quarter-final match-ups

Now that the quarter-finalists have been decided in the Samdech Hun Sen Cup competition, here is a reminder of who will play who on the weekend of 26 and 27 February. The matches have been put off until then as the Cambodian national team have two matches against Macau, home and away, in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying round. On Saturday 26 February Preah Khan Reach will kick-off at 2pm as they face the underdogs from Prek Pra Keila. Phnom Penh Crown and Build Bright United provide the juiciest encounter of the last eight of the competition, with a 4.30pm start. BBU finished 2nd in the regular C-League campaign last term though Crown eventually won out in the play-off final to claim the Championship trophy. Crown were also beaten finalists in the Hun Sen Cup when they were beaten by the Army. The Sunday match-ups will see Naga Corp take on the new C-Leaguers in National Police Commissary at 2pm. The later match will pit the Army team against a resurgent Kirivong Sok Sen Chey. The Golden Boot award is currently tied at 16 goals apiece between PKR's Khuon Laboravy and Kirivong's In Vichheka. My money is on Laboravy, after his hat-trick in the last round against Rithy Sen - the man is on fire.

Breaking sweat

Coach of the winning Naga team, Prak Sovananara

The quarter-finalists for the Hun Sen Cup 2011 have been decided after today's two remaining 2nd round matches. Naga Corp hardly broke sweat in brushing aside Koh Kong 4-0, whilst Kirivong Sok Sen Chey found their province neighbours Takeo a tough nut to crack before recording a 4-1 success. Naga scored all of their goals in the 1st half with 2 goals in as many minutes effectively undoing Koh Kong's rearguard action. The first arrived on 23 minutes when Teab Vathanak deftly flicked in a header from Meas Channa's corner to the near post. That was followed up by Channa grabbing his own goal, latching onto a Pok Chanthan through ball. Just after the half hour Vathanak showed off his deadball talents with a direct free-kick from the edge of the box that arrowed past Koh Kong's replacement keeper Chhin Leang Srun. Six minutes before the interval, Chin Chum raced onto Om Thavrak's 45-yard pass and kept his cool with a neat chip over Srun's head. 4-nil at half-time and the game was over. Naga took their foot off the pedal and only briefly sparked whilst Koh Kong found their way to goal blocked with neither side troubling the scoreboard in the 2nd half.

Naga Corp, sporting their unappealing grey kit, won 4-0

Koh Kong found themselves unable to break down the Naga Corp defence

Meak Chhordaravuth netted twice for Kirivong against Takeo in their 4-1 win

With two teams from the same province contesting the final round 16 match, something had to give. Whilst Takeo were the obvious underdogs against their C-League neighbours, the minnows gave as good as they got in the first-half and even struck the crossbar from distance. Kirivong were harried out of their normal game, with Takeo spirited, busy and yapping at Kirivong's heels throughout and nil-nil at the interval was a great platform for a cup shock. However, Kirivong got their noses in front with two goals in 3 minutes, the first coming on 58 minutes with Sos Nasiet credited with the final touch. Adding a further nail in Takeo's coffin, new signing Meak Chhordaravuth from Chhma Khmao gladly accepted a pass from Mech Sophasith and slotted home. No-one had told Takeo that the game was over and they bounced back five minutes later when Hy Sokveng's free-kick split the defensive wall and bounced wickedly over Keum Makara in the Kirivong goal. It was nip and tuck for a while, with the crowd behind the underdogs but Kiriviong didn't buckle and with ten minutes to go they added a killer third goal. The scorer was 16-goal In Vichheka, who had prodded and poked at the Takeo defence all game and finally found room to toe-poke the ball past keeper Sos Isa from Chhordaravuth's slick pass. In time added on Chhordaravuth added his second with a cool finish to send Takeo out of the cup and Kirivong marching on.

Kirivong SSC beat their Takeo rivals 4-1

No it's not Arsenal, its the Takeo team, who went down 4-1 today

Hello, hello, hello

Two goals from Commissary skipper Sophal Udom undid Stung Treng

The National Police Commissary starting line-up that triumphed 3-0

The clash of the police in Saturday's opening Hun Sen Cup 2nd round match-up went the way of the formbook with the National Police Commissary, a new addition to this season's approaching C-League, proving too strong for the Military Police unit from Stung Treng. Former national teammates, Hok Sochivorn and Ung Kanyanith were in charge of the two teams, with Kanyanith taking the honours at the final whistle. With a sprinkling of familiar names to C-League watchers, the Commissary team grabbed the all-important first goal just three minutes before the break as Ly Arafine headed in Hou Sambo's cross to the far post. Stung Treng huffed and puffed at the start of the 2nd half but failed to breakthrough and just after the hour, Sophal Udom lashed in the second Commissary goal after confusion in the Stung Treng backline. Though they struck the crossbar with a searing 25 yard free-kick, the team from the northernmost province along the Mekong River were sunk by a second from Sophal Udom on 76 minutes, when he fired into the roof of the net from Sambo's byeline pull-back to make it a convincing 3-0 scoreline.

The MP's from Stung Treng

Ex-Cambodian international striker Hok Sochivorn, now coach at Stung Treng

Winning coach Ung Kanyanith of Police Commissary

It's a big day out in the city for the party from Stung Treng

The later game on Saturday also finished as expected with the National Defense Ministry overpowering Chhma Khmao 2-1 but the bottom club in last season's C-League put up a spirited fight and better fitness might've just proved decisive. The first half was devoid of much goalmouth activity with the Army team taking the lead just five minutes after the interval when substitute Phuong Soksana broke into the box and fired across keeper Phorng Ratana into the far corner. On 66 minutes, they extended their lead when Thong Udom ventured upfield and powered his header home from Ieng Piseth's perfect center. Five minutes later Chhma Khmao's task was made even harder when referee Khuon Virak over-reacted to a mistimed tackle and sent off Houng Rady. Undaunted, the team from Svay Rieng got back into the tie when Oung Dara's 25-yard free-kick sailed into the top corner with 14 minutes remaining but they never quite had the legs, or the skill, to unlock the Army defence a 2nd time.

The Army starting line-up which made heavy weather of beating Chhma Khmao

Chhma Khmao gave a good account of themselves despite losing 2-1

Thong Udom leads out his Army side in red, followed by keeper Sou Yaty