Tomoki inspires Cambodia’s rubbermen to AFC Cup win

Boueng Ket Angkor 1 – Magwe FC 0

AFC Cup Group F

Olympic Stadium 14-3-2017

The AFC cup group stage experience improved markedly for Boueng Ket Angkor and their beleaguered coach John McGlynn as the rubbermen secured their first points of the campaign courtesy of a Magwe own-goal midway through the first half.

Playing a 4-2-3-1 formation with Khoun Laboravy leading the attack ahead of Maycon, Tomoki and Seth Rozib the home-side struggled to settle early. The rubbermen looking rudderless against the tidy side from Myanmar. Two early free-kicks in dangerous positions wasted for Magwe -  the first after Sou Yaty had slid out of his penalty area still clutching the ball.

The peroxide headed keeper is a divisive figure. An excellent shot stopper capable of producing wonderful saves, as illustrated at least twice to secure this win, but with a tendency of potentially calamitous dashes from the line leaving his goal orphaned. No keeper should be forced to head the ball as often.

After their shaky start Boeung Ket began to grow in stature. 

Possession less timid. 

Less intimated by the giant Africans, Henry Alloysius and Malian Jean Paul Oulai, marshaling the back line for Magwe nor Guinea’s Sylla Sekou up-front. 

Tomoki was again excellent. Full of energy and intent creating chances and constantly looking for opportunities. 

However the battle with Alloysius seemed one-sided and neither Laboravy nor Maycon were able to assert themselves physically. However with their first corner, defended by 10 Magwe players, Boueng Ket took the lead. The unfortunate Oulai deflecting the ball into his own-net from inside the crowded penalty area.

Almost immediately Boeung Ket Angkor slowed the game down and, here on in, did a generally good job of control. The busy Burmese players, chief among them speedy Maung Maung Soe (whose Wikipedia entry presumably erroneously states he is the mayor of Yangon), Swan Htet Aung, and Naing Naing Kyaw searching for opportunities for Sekou. The best chance was created when the Guineans ominous presence on the end of a Maung Maung Soe cross forced the otherwise excellent Touch Pancharong to head towards goal forcing a full-stretch save from Yaty to prevent the game's second OG.

In the second half Magwe searched for the equaliser but Boeung Ket Angkor held firm. Marauding breaks by Tomoki and Maycon denied by a combination of  last grasp, lung-busting defending from Alloysius and a cynical foul resulting in the second yellow-card for the Burmese substitute Set Phyo Wai. So three AFC points and a clean sheet for Boueng Ket, a relief after conceding 14 goals in the past six games, together with some ASEAN football bragging rights.

Man of the Match: Tomoki Muramatsu (BKA)

Police keep on in the middle of the road

National Police 1 – CMAC United 1

Old Stadium

11-3-2017

The hierarchy of the Metfone C-League is relatively clear. Five teams – Phnom Penh Crown, Boeung Ket Angkor, Nagaworld, Svay Rieng and Army - in contention for the league title and six trying desperately to avoid defeats and relegation – Tiger, Asia Europe, Electricite du Cambodge, CMAC, Kirivong Sok Sen Chey, and Western Phnom Penh. Six teams who already this season have a combined goal difference of -32 after only four games each.

The anomaly is National Police Commissary. The sole genuine mid-table team of the league. Unlikely to be good enough for the Post-Season Play-offs but too good to be one of the league’s bottom-feeders.

On Saturday afternoon this pattern continued as undefeated Police remained undefeated following a 1-1 draw with CMAC United at the Old Stadium. A match delayed 15 minutes due to the surreal presence on the pitch of heavy machinery, the type usually fouling Phnom Penh traffic, trying to erect a giant flood light pylon and seemingly unaware of the football match to come.

Once the game started Police were tidy and well organized. Shane Peterson, no disgrace being the second best South African in the league, playing the N’Golo Kante/Makelele holding mid-fielder role superbly alongside South Korean Jeong Hee-jong. Cambodian international Tith Dina was also busy and creative although number 10, and captain, Ol Ravy failed to impress. Peterson is a clear menace from set-pieces and came close a couple of times. However as the game progressed, and Police could not turn their possession into goals, CMAC slowly came into the game and, particularly when the opponent committed men forward for set-pieces, looked dangerous on the break. And against the run of play scored through Ghanian Tutu – his 3^rd of the season.

At half-time Police introduced Sun Vandeth the lively winger moustached like a cheap TV comedian. However CMAC were growing in stature and the half was much more even. Nevertheless Vandeth scored the equalizer mid-way through the second half to secure Police’s third draw in four games.

Solidly middle of the road.

Elsewhere Phnom Penh Crown moved joint top-of-table (an identical record to Svay Rieng) with a 6-1 demolition of the fairly hapless Kirvong Sok Sen Chey. Shane Booysen scored a hat-trick (7 goals for the season in four games). In contrast the new big Brazilian up front Guto looked a little off the pace, at least in the 45 minutes I was at the RSN, but nevertheless bagged a brace in the second half. The champions, Boueng Ket Angkor, dropped points again: a 3-3 draw with Western Phnom Penh at the Olympic Stadium. The CV11-less rubbermen are already five points behind the league leaders. 

A tragic Western for Phnom Penh

Western Phnom Penh 0 – Svay Rieng 5

5^th March 2017

Western Stadium

The Western Stadium. Arguably the most pleasant of the four Phnom Penh stadia hosting C League matches. A single stand along one-side with a counter-table for those on the top row and even, bizarrely, a loosely stocked convenience mart at one end of the stand. Unfortunately a nice home is, largely, all Western Phnom Penh have going for them. Just 12 league wins over the past 3+ seasons (18% of matches played) and an average of 2.9 goals conceded per game over the same period.

On Sunday afternoon it was the turn of Svay Rieng to put 5, unanswered, goals past Peng Bunchay in the Western goal. The seventh time in the past 21 games Western PP have conceded five or more goals and a result which puts Svay Rieng top of the nascent league table due to, appropriately enough, goal difference.

The visitors Nigerian trio of Obi, Chigozie, and Chidera spear-headed the attack and contributed four of the five goals. Chidera Ononiwu, number 25, was the brightest and scored a double. However as a result of this fluid attacking trio national team star Prak Mony Udom was forced into a deeper central midfield role and his influence was limited. Nub Tola and the tidy South Korean holding midfielder Kim Nam-gun looked more effective and efficient for maintaining possession and initiating attacks for the variably hirsute Nigerian forwards.

For Western not a great deal to excite but Cambodian forward Run Rany was busy and, in combination with Nigerian Abiodun, created their best opportunities without often threatening the Svay Rieng goal.

Elsewhere Phnom Penh Crown dropped their first points of the season following a 2-2 draw with National Police in the Sunday evening match. The former champions thankful of the consistent excellence of their two best players –Soksela in goal and Booysen with the goals – to salvage a point. Equal with Svay Rieng and Crown after 3 matches are Army, 4-1 winners over Asia Europe, for whom the North Korean Ronaldo Choe Myong-ho is continuing to provide the goals and inspiration. 

Crown Edge the Casino Derby

Naga FC 0 - Phnom Penh Crown 1

Olympic Stadium
25 Feb 2017

The Casino Derby. The bricks, morter, and LED Screens of NagaWorld versus the more ephemeral presence of 855Crown.com. But two of the best teams in the Metfone C League complete with two of the better kits. Crown in their Smart inspired Green and Naga various natty shades of purple.

Both teams had won their opening round fixtures, scoring 7 goals between them, so an opportunity for someone to lay a marker for the defending champions Boueng Ket Angkor before they kick off their season this evening. And it was Crown who emerged victorious holding on for a single goal victory.

In a first half of relatively few chances most opportunities came from set-pieces. In the opening moments Naga's new player, the composed Japennese defender Fujihara, came close with a header from a corner. Crown's talisman Booysen, a wonderful striker of freekicks, hit the bar from a long way out. However Booysen was too isolated on the flanks to influence the game beyond his set-piece delivery and Naga's busy midfield of Cambodian internationals Khim Borey and Sos Suhana had more possession and looked more threatening. However their two African attackers - former Crown striker Kelechi and Rwanda's Kipson (who had scored four goals in the opening match for Naga) - failed to make much of an impression. Despite his strong scoring record Kipson looks underwhelming watched live.

On 37 minutes the game's defining moment. A Booysen corner and centre-back Boris Kok planting his header beyond Samrith in the Naga goal.

In the second half Naga, who replaced Khim with the equally busy Suong Virak, pressed and searched for the equaliser. A succession of corners came close and the woodwork was hit. But the excellent Soksella in Crown's goal repelled all attacks and a second Crown goal on the break appeared as likely as an equaling strike for Naga. It almost came as In Sodavid rushed down the right and delivered a great cross giving Brak Thiva a fantastic opportunity to score from inside the six-yard box. He fluffed the chance over the bar.

Ultimately a little fortunate for Crown but an 100% start for the season. They still look physically light-weight, few professional teams globally can be as small and slight, but the confirmed addition of a couple of new foreign signings, including a well-traveled Brazilian striker (seemingly this seasons most have accessory in the C League) promises a strong challenge for the title.

Man of the Match: Keo Soksela

Cambodia Football League: 2017 Season Preview

Cambodian League 2017: Season Preview

With the expanded Metfone Cambodian League getting under way next weekend a timely opportunity to identify a number of the interesting talking points and story-lines for the upcoming season.

All Change At the Champions

The Prodigal (provincial governor’s) son has departed as CV11 begins the 2017 season in Japan as Kampot’s most prestigious export since the pepper. After a stunning 116 goals in 90 league games for the Rubbermen Chan Vathanaka will be trying his luck with J3 side Fujieda MYFC. Also departing from Boeung Ket Angkor the coach, Prak Sovannara perhaps the best respected Cambodian manager in the game.

Despite this flux things appear to be relatively rosy for the Champions. An impressive qualification for the AFC Cup Group Stage and two foreign players who may be amongst the best in the league. Japanese attacker Tomoki Muramatsu, signed from Cambodian Tiger for whom he scored 15 goals last season, was excellent in the 2-leg victory over Laos’ eponymously named Toyota FC whilst Brazilian striker Maycon is a former golden boot winner in the Belarussian league albeit arriving via the Thai Second Division. And whilst he looked a little off the pace in the home draw against Lao Toyota it will be intriguing to see how Maycon, one of 3 Brazilians apparently registered for the upcoming season across the league, performs.

Can Crown Compete

Almost certainly yes and a repeat of last years nightmare season seems unlikely. Shane Booysen, too good for the Cambodian league, is back and seems likely to be the top scorer in the division. Combined with a good spine of Cambodian talent, many including the impressive Seut Baraing and In Sodavid products of the youth academy, they will surely compete. But foreign recruitment, key to success in the league, appears perplexing poor. Three players released just a week before the start of the season is not ideal preparation – albeit if at least two of the players Chiharu Kosuge and Volodymyr Ordynskyi looked well out of their depth even at this level. A good Asian scouting network would seem to be a sensible use of the clubs resources.

Asian Pivot

The days when a Cambodian league team’s foreign contingent represented a big African at the back and another up top are long gone. The top three goal scorers in in the league last season were all Asian and there is a strong argument that two of the three best foreign players this season are from the East not the West – Boueng Ket Angkor’s Muramatsu and Army’s sensation the Asian Ronaldo Choe Myong-ho. Less than half of the foreign players registered for this season are African and beyond Booysen it is perhaps difficult to see them being the difference for a teams fortunes.

Prak Mony Udom vs Keo Sokpeng vs Khoun Laboravy

With CV11 gone the battle for the best and most influential Cambodian player in the league is open. Whoever wins the battle between Svay Rieng’s Prak Mony Udom, Crown’s Keo Sokpeng and Boeung Ket Angkor’s Khoun Laboravy to emerge as the most potent attacking force will strongly position their team to push for the title. All three players are talented and are worth watching: both by fans of the game and scouts from neighboring leagues.

How will the Angkor Warriors do?

Since their disappointing (8 matches played 8 defeats 27 goals conceded and 1 scored) World Cup Qualifying group the national team has improved in both fortunes and popularity. They made the final stages of the AFF Suzuki and were not disgraced taking the lead in matches against both Malaysia (twice) and the host Myanmar whilst playing, at times, some engaging attacking football. They now find themselves in an AFC Asian Cup qualifying group where, if things go right, qualification is not totally out the question. Matches against Afghanistan (a foe in the World Cup Qualifiers as well), Jordon and a likely highly charged local derby against the Youn Vietnam. With the top two teams qualifying the opening home match in June vs Afghanistan (who narrowly won 1-0 at the Olympic Stadium in the World Cup) is critical.

Predicted Final League Positions

1.       Boueng Ket Angkor

2.       Phnom Penh Crown

3.       National Defense

4.       Svay Rieng

5.       Nagaworld

6.       Cambodian Tiger

7.       National Police

8.       CMAC United

9.       Western Phnom Penh

10.   Kirivong Sok Sen Chey

11.   Asia Euro Utd

12.   Electricite du Cambodge

Seven goal thriller in AFC Cup Play-Off

AFC Cup Play-Off: Phnom Penh Crown 3 – Home United FC 4

Phnom Penh Crown left themselves a difficult, but not completely impossible, task to qualify for the AFC Cup Group Stages following an entertaining match at the RSN. A defeat by the odd goal in 7 to Home United as the five-times Cambodian champions were left ruing a comical own-goal from the hapless Japanese defender Chiharu Kosuge. The 4-3 defeat that means a two goal victory in Singapore will be needed to progress.

Crown were not overawed by the S League side and looked, at times, both sharper and more effective than the side from the island republic. But the defense let the home team down and, again, a series of excellent saves by Keo Soksella, possibly the best goalkeeper in Cambodia currently, were required.

In the opening stages both teams number 10s were influential operating down the flank in front of the main stand. Keo Sokpeng, his hair almost channeling Valderama, looking dangerous for Crown whilst the Singapore international Fairs Ramli (two international goals versus Cambodia) the best player for Home United. And it was former wunder-kid Faris who created the momentum for Home with two goals in the space of two minutes around the half hour mark. A penalty converted followed by a lovely finish after a good through ball from midfield. But Crown always looked like scoring and the less hapless of the Japanese pair striker Futa Nakamura, who looked busy throughout and had struck the post with the match goalless, scored on the brink of half-time.

The game could then have gone either way before Keystone Kops Kalamity struck Kosuge. An own goal he probably could not repeat in training. And an error magnified by the two excellent Crown goals which kept them in the game. Both heavily involved Shane Booysen who is Back. A mazy run and a nice pass to Keo Sokngoun and a fantastic finish from the edge of the area. Booysen then scored Crown’s third with a wonderful direct free kick.

So positives for Crown ahead of the new season and an outside chance of qualification if Booysen can light up Singapore. 

Asia’s best show their class at the RSN

Phnom Penh Crown 0 – Buriarm United 6

RSN Stadium 18^th Jan 2017

Buriarm. Where they speak Khmer but it sounds just like drunk Glaswegian.

But home to, perhaps, South East Asia’s biggest and most successful football club. A club which, whilst it’s origin may be anathema to British fans raised on football clubs as immovable objects, represents a region, a culture, and the Red Shirts vs the Yellows. And success. Four Thai League titles in the past six years and one of ASEAN’s most dominant teams.

At a packed RSN Stadium this dominance was demonstrated with an apologetically insolent performance. A six nil score line and a display of the relative power of Thai vs Cambodian football. Yet Phnom Penh Crown, who should be applauded for both organizing such a match and ensuring the gate receipts went to charity, were not disgraced.

The star of the show the Berbatov-esque Diogo. A Brazilian previously linked to Arsenal, Liverpool and Fiorentina and with a track-record of goals in Greece with the county’s biggest club Olympiacos. A flat-track bully in Asia – 41 goals in 43 matches in Thailand top division. He only played 45 minutes but scored twice – the first a stunning long range curling precision effort hit with the ease of someone on a riverside promenade. The differential in size and strength between Buriarm and Crown players was striking – a crouching Diogo appeared taller than both of Crown's full-backs.

Nevertheless the home team were not disgraced and a number of positives can be drawn for the upcoming season. Keo Soksela in goal was superb – a number of excellent saves and showing an impressively improved command of his penalty area. Though dimunitive in size the full-backs, the talented Suet Baraing and Suon Neut, worked hard and against less physically demanding opposition will excel. When #10 Keo Sokpheng moved forward, as opposed to dropping deep into midfield, he showed his talent and ability to create.

However it will be the foreign players who will make the difference in the upcoming season and here both reasons for cheer and concern. Shane Booysen was probably the best player in the league two years ago when Crown when the title – a serious injury latter he is back, probably still too good for the Cambodian league, and showing both energy and innovation. An attempted lob of the Buriarm keeper early in the second half came close for Crown. He will score 20+ goals this season for Phnom Penh Crown. 

However on first impressions Ukrainian attacking midfielders Ordnskyi offers little beyond hard-work and willing running and Japanese striker Futa Nakamura may be docked wages for sending his best chance over the stand and into the marshes surrounding the RSN. 

A final word on the motorbike parking.

Shit.

Nothing says Fuck Off to the common man, who make up the majority of Crown's supporters, than the acres given over to cars - who can role up 5 mins before a game and find easier parking - and the total lack of organisation and forethought regarding motorbikes. Getting close to  Black Hole of Calcutta / Koh Pich Crush proportions. A bit of planning, thought and more than 2 people and entrances would sort this out. Hope it is prior to the big AFC cup match at the end of the month.