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.