Press talk

My reports from the Hun Sen Cup matches played over the weekend are published in today's Phnom Penh Post. You can read them on-line here. Interesting to see that The Cambodia Daily had a photo from the match on their front page today with a quarter of a page report as well. They rarely cover sports or football, occasionally putting out a few lines when there's a big match. The PPP's coverage of local football in particular has mushroomed over the last couple of years and it would be good to have some friendly rivalry if the Daily can get their act together and make a better fist of their sports coverage.

From Nick's lense

The pain and the ecstacy. Crown's Heng Sokly hides his head whilst Chhin Chhoeurn celebrates the MND cup final win.

Nick Sells is the photographer about town. When he's not raving it up at the local expat night scene on Pontoon or suchlike, he can be found at the Olympic Stadium covering most of the football matches. His pictures appear regularly in the Phnom Penh Post. His website is here. Here's a few of his snaps from the weekend.

There's a look of disdain on the face of referee Khuon Virak as he delivers a red card to Preah Khan Reach's Sam El Nasa on Saturday

This is the moment that Thong Oudom's (in white) looping header won the cup for his Army outfit

MND skipper Khim Borey is a happy man after the final whistle

The face of concentration amongst the Army regulars drafted into Sunday's cup final crowd

The Phnom Penh Crown support in happier times

MND's national team winger Nov Soseila with his medal and some hanger-on!

Cup final photos

This is what it means to the Ministry of National Defense players

Goalkeeper Samreth Seiha receives his winners medal from Governor Kep Chuktema

The Army team line up before receiving their winners medals. Capt Khim Borey is carrying the flag.

A look at the main stand with the obvious presence of the military supporters

The Army coach and matchwinner Thong Oudom are interviewed by the television cameras

Army substitute and goalscorer Chhin Chhoeurn

At the final whistle, the MND players revel in their success

Another 'great toss up of our time' before the cup final

Khim Borey (7) leads out the Army team in white and blue in Sunday's cup final

This is the Hun Sen Cup. This is what all the fuss was about.

Cup Final fever

The Army win the Hun Sen Cup for the 1st time beating Phnom Penh Crown 3-2

No-one can deny that the football served up by the Hun Sen Cup competition this season didn't produce excitement, entertainment, suspense and goals galore, as well as yellow and red cards sprinkled around like confetti. And today's cup final was no exception. It has been a great precursor to the league season which should kick off in a couple of weeks time and for the Ministry of National Defense - the team that has no foreign imports in their squad, who were unable to play in the cup competition - to win gives some credence that they are the best Khmer team in the country, especially beating the moneybags of Phnom Penh Crown.
Before the game, which kicked off in temperatures around 38 degrees, we were treated to live singers, a big crowd turned up (over 16,000), many of whom were in khaki Army fatigues to counteract the massed ranks of Crown supporters in red, the guest of honour was the city's governor and the stage was set for a cup final to remember. We weren't disappointed with the suspense maintained until the final kick of the match when MND netted an injury-time winner to claim the cup for the first time. With three added minutes on the clock, they were awarded a free-kick which Ieng Piseth swung high into the Crown penalty area and where Thong Oudom outjumped everyone else to loop his header into the net, immediately being pulled to the ground and mobbed by his teammates. There was just enough time for Crown to restart the game before referee Tuy Vicheka blew to spark celebrations worthy of any cup final success.

MND started positively from the kick-off in searing heat against a weakened Crown line-up, shorn of four regulars through suspension. On 25 minutes they got their noses in front after dogged wing-play from Phuong Soksana. He bustled his way past three defenders and his low centre was rifled into the roof of the net by Sin Dalin to send one half of the audience into raptures. I watched for some reaction from the ranks of the Army regulars but they sat there, rather stoically, simply clapping their colleague's success. Crown finally awoke from their lethargy late in the half with a rather fortunate equaliser. Thong Oudom's headed clearance struck Chan Chhaya and his quick reaction shot was deflected into the path of Heng Sokly, who couldn't miss the target from five yards out.

The second half mirrored the first with MND making all the early running and twenty minutes in, they recaptured their lead through substitute Chhin Chhoeurn. On the pitch for five minutes after replacing the injured Nov Soseila, he stole in at the far post to add the finishing touch as everyone else failed to react to a 40-yard free-kick from Khek Khemarin that sailed into the Crown penalty box. With players finding the heat unbearable, both sides used up their allotment of substitutions and it looked as though MND would hold out for their first-ever cup success. That was until with just a minute remaining, their goalkeeper Samreth Seiha miscued a routine clearance straight to Chan Rithy who rolled the ball into the unguarded net from 25 yards out. Seiha was inconsolable - even after the final whistle when he found it hard to celebrate with his teammates - though with just seconds remaining, Thong Oudom loped upfield and settled the cup final result with his winning header to cue jubilant celebrations.

MND collected their medals from Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema as well as a cheque for 80 million riel, with Phnom Penh Crown picking up half that amount and 3rd place Preah Khan Reach taking home 20 million riel and the Fair Play Award of 5 million. Collecting individual awards of 1 million riel apiece were the competition's joint top scorers with 18 goals, Kuoch Sokumpheak of Khemara Keila and Srey Veasna of Phnom Penh, with Crown's Peng Bunchhay picking up the best goalkeeper accolade.

The Phnom Penh Crown line-up before the cup final begins

Salute the cup winners

The Ministry of Defense team celebrate after their dramatic late cup success

The Army pulled off the cup shock most people were hoping for but they left it very late and nearly blew it before scoring the winner in a 3-2 success in the Hun Sen Cup Final with the last kick of the game. Phnom Penh Crown got back into the match when Chan Rithy was presented with a gift from Army keeper Samreth Seiha, a minute from time but the stopper could breathe again when Thong Oudom loped forward for a free kick in the dying seconds and saw his header loop over the despairing dive of the Crown keeper for the match winner. On the balance of play the Army just about deserved it and the entertaining game was in keeping with some of the exciting football served up by this season's cup competition. I'll post a full match report later but just to repeat that final score, Ministry of National Defense 3 - 2 Phnom Penh Crown.

The Army boys take the plaudits after the cup is handed over

Army skipper Khim Borey collects his winners medal from Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema

You wouldn't believe it but Mr Cool, Thong Oudom had just scored the winner in the cup final

The competition's top hotshot with 18 goals, Kuoch Sokumpheak with a former striker, now washed-up and only capable of writing about the game!

PKR grab 3rd spot

Heang Saravuth was the matchwinner for Preah Khan in today's 3rd place decider

Today's 3rd place play-off in the Hun Sen Cup saw Preah Khan Reach run out 3-2 winners in a nail-biter against Naga Corp. With two of the country's best teams facing each other, it was always going to be a close affair and so it proved though Naga began like a train and with 2 goals from Kop Isa in a frantic three minute spell, they took a stranglehold of the tie and looked a good bet at the half-time interval. Both teams left two of their best players on the bench, Sun Sovannrithy for Naga and Sam El Nasa for PKR, and that gave Kop Isa a rare opportunity to start. His two goals, on 15 and 18 minutes, justified his inclusion. His first was a neat and tidy finish after a Teab Vatanak header sent him on a clear run at goal. He fired home his second from eight yards after Kim Chanbunrith's byline pull back found him in space. After the goals, PKR brought on Sam El Nasa and his introduction gave them more impetus, but Naga's keeper Pich Rovin Yothin was in great form with some brave saves, getting a foot in the face twice, for his troubles.
Ten minutes in the second half, Naga's Vatanak had his low drive through a ruck of players saved by the feet of PKR keeper Ouk Mic but PKR were upping their game and reduced the deficit five minutes later. With Sam El Nasa pushed up front, it was the former national team captain that netted with a calm finish from Kao Kiry's pass. The writing was on the wall as PKR put on the pressure and on 72 minutes, Khuon Laboravy had the easiest of finishes after Heang Saravuth had broken clear and unselfishly squared it to his teammate. Seven minutes later and Saravuth scored PKR's third, albeit with a fluke of a finish after he mis-controlled a pass from Prak Mony Udom and lobbed the ball over the onrushing Pich Rovin Yothin, almost by accident. Less than a minute later, Naga were given the opportunity to level the scoreline. Sovannrithy, a replacement early in the second half, was tapped by Sok Rithy and referee Khuon Virak couldn't wait to point to the spot. There was no way anyone apart from Sovannrithy was going to take the penalty but his spot-kick wasn't the best and Ouk Mic dived low to his left to smother his shot. Penalty kicks have come to haunt Naga in this competition, after they lost to them in last week's semi-final. PKR's Sam El Nasa was shown his second yellow, and a red card with six minutes to go but Naga had already had the stuffing knocked out of them and PKR ran out 3-2 winners, earning themselves 20 million riel. Referee Virak had a busy day too, flashing 9 yellows and that late red card.

Preah Khan, bedecked in their red kit, came back from a 2-goal deficit to win

Naga Corp came out guns blazing but couldn't hold onto their advantage

Referee Khuon Virak keeps a close eye on his coin as the captains await his call

Weekend matches

Just had confirmation of this weekend's final round of Hun Sen Cup matches. The 3rd/4th place decider will take place at 3pm on Saturday between Naga Corp and Preah Khan Reach. The actual cup final will also kick-off at 3pm but on Sunday (7th March) and will pitch Phnom Penh Crown, the favourites, against the military might of the Ministry of National Defense. I believe they are on separate days so they can both be televised live, but don't hold me to that.

Press talk

The whole of the inside back page of today's Phnom Penh Post carries my reports

I write football match reports for the English-language newspaper Phnom Penh Post and you can read my view on Saturday's Hun Sen Cup ties online later today. I've no idea why the editor got the idea that Crown beat Naga 7-6 on penalties, as it was clearly 4-3 to everyone that was present, including me. Reports. The PPP have come a long way from November 2008 when I wrote to the editor, and they published my letter, bemoaning the complete absence of local sports coverage, especially football. Nowadays they do Cambodian football a great service, with match previews, match reports, photos, midweek news stories, lots of coverage of the international team and so on. You've got to hand it to them, they provide a level of local and national sports coverage that their rivals simply can't compete with. And very soon they will expand that with a weekly Khmer language edition sports supplement. Hats off to the PPP. Obviously, I have a vested interest but you can't argue with the facts.

The 2nd SF line-ups

The Ministry of National Defense line-up before their semi-final success: LtoR: Udom, Borin, Soksana, Piseth, Rady, Borey (c): Khemarin, Dalin, Kumpheak, Seiha, Virak

Pre-match pics from the 2nd semi-final on Saturday, which saw the Defense Ministry cause of bit of a surprise by beating Preah Khan Reach 1-nil. They now face Phnom Penh Crown in next weekend's Hun Sen Cup final.

The red shirts of Preah Khan Reach before the game, which they lost 1-nil: LtoR: Udom, Raksmey, Rithy, Chanrasmey, Mic, Saravuth, Thuon, El Nasa, Narith, Saray, Kiri

The second semi-final was played under floodlights at Olympic Stadium

Can you feel it?

Phnom Penh Crown players take their bow at the end of their semi-final success

I think you can get a sense of the happiness exuding from the Phnom Penh Crown players and staff at the conclusion of their penalty shoot-out semi-final win against Naga Corp on Saturday.

Phuong Narong took off his shirt and ran to the touchline after scoring the winning penalty

Overcome with emotion, Crown's Phuong Narong was in tears at the end of the cup tie

It's all hugs and smiles for Crown after their 4-3 penalty win over Naga Corp

The Crown players take a minute to calm down after the emotional rollercoaster of the penalty shoot-out

Pre-match photos

Phnom Penh Crown line-up before the semi-final. LtoR: Sophana, Tiny, Sokngorn, Bunchhay, Pichseyla, Veasna, Sovannara, Chhaya, Sokly, Sothearith (c), Virath

Pre-match snaps from the incident-packed Phnom Penh Crown v Naga Corp semi-final on Saturday afternoon.

Naga Corp before the start of their casino-backed semi-final against PPCrown. LtoR: Sovannrithy, Channa, Chenla, Soto, Sokhom, Thavrak (c), Chom, Veasna, Vatanak, Sophy, Chanthan

My ongoing series of 'Great Toss-Ups of our Time' gets another headliner before the start of the Crown v Naga semi-final. The captains are Thul Sothearith in red and Om Thavrak (Naga).

After the Lord Mayor's Show

The second of the Hun Sen Cup semi-finals this afternoon was a case of After the Lord Mayor's Show, with Preah Khan Reach the clear favourites to beat the boys from the Ministry of National Defense, but the tables were turned when the Army ran out 1-0 victors. But it wasn't exactly a game to remember. In Samreth Seiha, MND have the country's top keeper and his safe handling and two worthy saves in the 2nd half ensured his team kept a clean sheet, his reaction stop to deny Sam El Nasa's close range effort was the pick of the game. MND grabbed their match winning goal on 27 minutes when teenager Oum Kumpheak stole in at the far post to rifle home a corner from Suong Virak. It was a fitting strike from the U23 international, who stood out amongst his peers in this game. The closest PKR came to levelling was a Khuon Laboravy free-kick that rebounded back off the crossbar, but to be frank they looked toothless and bereft of ideas and the Army march onto next weekend's final. Judging by their post match celebrations, you got the hint that they were a teeny bit pleased.

Comeback of comebacks - not quite

Let's relive the first of today's Hun Sen Cup semi-finals, just to give you an idea of how exciting it was. The clash of the titans, between the casino-backed teams of Phnom Penh Crown and Naga Corp, kicked off at 2.30pm. It was at least 35 degrees and you've got to give credit to both teams for playing in that furnace. The crowd was a good one, at least 6 or 7,000, the band was back in the stands and Crown were bolstered by the return to the side of their teenage starlet Keo Sokngorn, and their coach, was has returned from a stint in Thailand. Crown won the cup last year, beating Naga 1-0 in the final but it was Naga who capped the season as league champions to gain their revenge.

The early exchanges were straightforward enough before Crown took control with 3 goals in a seven-minute spell, catching Naga all at sea and cutting them to ribbons before we were 20 minutes into the game. On 13 minutes, Sokngorn announced his return when he coolly rolled the ball into an unguarded net from 3o yards out after Naga stopped for an offside flag that never came. Five minutes later, he was at it again, selling a dummy to Om Thavrak and rifling the ball into the roof of the net for his second. Naga lost the ball on the half-way line and failed to cut out a pass to Chan Chhaya, who stepped inside and fired a third across the face of keeper Chom Veasna. The bookings started to mount up and Crown keeper Peng Bunchhay showed his nerves when he dropped a routine catch onto the foot of Sun Sovannrithy, who managed to spoon it over the bar from a yard out. The match descended into farce a few minutes before the interval when Sovannrithy went down clutching his face, claiming he'd been elbowed by Lor Pichseyla, who was booked in the incident. The Naga manager called his players to the touchline and threatened a walk-off before Federation officials persuaded him to change his mind and send his players back out to complete the half. It echoed a similar incident in the play-offs last season, when Crown actually did walk off the pitch. The delay had lasted 12 minutes and Naga, three goals behind at the time, took on the role of 'spoilt brats' that Crown had made their own up til then.

The 2nd half was a very different story. Ten minutes in and Naga grabbed a lifeline when Chek Sokhom's floated 40 yard cross sailed over the flailing arms of Bunchhay and into the roof of the net. The jittery keeper made amends with a couple of good diving saves but Naga continued to press. On 75 minutes they were well and truly back in the tie when Sovannrithy, recently converted to a striking role and revelling in the limelight, neatly controlled and fired in an over the top pass from Kim Chanbunrith. With 5 minutes to go, Pichseyla inexplicably handed in the area, received a red card and allowed Naga's sub Chanbunrith to fire home the equaliser from the penalty spot. It was a comeback worthy of any cup semi-final.

Four minutes into extra time, both sides were down to 10-men when Naga skipper Om Thavrak went for an early bath for a senseless late tackle. Bookings continued to mount up - referee Thong Chankethya ended up flashing 14 yellows and 2 reds. It seems to me that Cambodian referees love to write reports after their games as they can't help penciling way too many names into their notebooks. Both teams hit the post in extra time, Chin Chom for Naga, Tieng Tiny for Crown, before Naga were handed the opportunity to record the comeback of all comebacks with a minute to go. Sovannrithy was clattered by Bunchhay as he sped through and Chankeythya pointed to the penalty spot. Teab Vatanak took the kick instead of regular spot-kick specialist Chanbunrith and Bunchhay pulled off a great save to leave the crowd stunned into silence. The whistle went soon after with penalty kicks the decider.

Naga's Chin Chom stepped up to send Bunchhay the wrong way with the first penalty. Crown's Tieng Tiny skied his team's first kick. Bunchhay then saved Tong Soto's weakly struck shot and Keo Sokngorn levelled it at one apiece. Chanbunrith skied the next kick and Crown nosed ahead when Sun Sopanha made no mistake. Sovannrithy netted for Naga, as did Sun Samprathna, with Thul Sothearith also scoring in between, to level it at 3 each. With Sam Mina's kick saved by Chom Veasna, it went to sudden death. Teab Vatanak stepped up for Naga, with his miss in extra time fresh in his memory and planted his kick in the corner but was ordered to retake the spot-kick as he stuttered in his run up. Bunchhay saved his weak second attempt and left Phuong Narong to whack in the deciding penalty at 4-3 to spark emotional scenes as Narong tore his shirt off and ran to the bench in tears, as Naga players held their heads in disbelief. Football really is a funny old game.

The passion of the cup

The Hun Sen Cup final next week will be between Phnom Penh Crown and the National Defense Ministry after those two teams came out on top in today's semi-finals. The Army team had the easier of the semis, beating Preah Khan Reach 1-nil, albeit against the odds and the formbook. However, the real drama of the day came about in the afternoon's first match between Crown and their big rivals, Naga Corp. This match had just about everything you could ask for in a cup tie. Passion, often mistimed, was evident and that was clear at the card card which reached two reds and 14 yellows. The goals count was just as high with Crown taking a 3-nil lead at half-time with a 3-goal splurge in just seven minutes. Naga, who'd threatened a walk-off just before the interval, came back strongly and pulled back the deficit, the game finishing 3- 3 at full-time, with the Naga equaliser coming from the penalty spot with five minutes to go. In extra time they blew the chance of a win by failing from the penalty spot with almost the last kick of the game and that meant a penalty shoot-out. It was 3-3 after the first five spot-kicks and onto sudden death. The drama continued to unfold when Teab Vatanak had to retake his penalty (he'd missed in extra time), which was saved and then Phuong Narong stepped up to fire Crown into the final before bursting into floods of tears. It was time for everyone to draw a huge breath of air. This game was certainly a glorious advert for the good, and bad, of Cambodian football. More later, after I've had a lie down in a darkened room.

Brief look at the semis

Tomorrow (Saturday 27th) will see the semis of the Hun Sen Cup taking place at the Olympic Stadium. They begin at 2pm with the mouth-watering Phnom Penh Crown versus Naga Corp tie. Both teams are backed by casinos, so aren't short of a bob or two, though Crown are definitely the moneybags of the Cambodia football scene. Crown missed out on the CPL title last season but they did clinch the Hun Sen Cup, beating Naga 1-nil in the final. So it's revenge time for Naga tomorrow and they get the nod from me. I think they'll have just too much on the day for Crown to handle in tomorrow's semi final, though the league games may be a different matter, depending on what foreign talent the two teams parade in a few weeks time. It was Naga who triumphed in the Super 4 play-off to claim the league championship last time around, after Crown came out on top during the regular season. A crap way to decide the champions but it made for an exciting finale.
In the other semi, on paper and in reality, Preah Khan Reach should out-gun the Ministry of National Defense but I hope they don't. I'd like to see the Army team get through to face Naga in the final. Just my personal preference. The Army came alive in their 9-1 quarter-final win over the provincial whipping boys Rithisen, but Preah Khan will be a much much tougher nut to crack, and full of some of the country's most experienced players. If the Army keeper Samreth Seiha can play a blinder and their two wingers lead the PKR defence a merry dance, they could just do it. Fingers crossed.