Saturday, July 11, 2015

Metfone Cambodia League week 4: National Defence 2-Cambodia Tiger 1

11 July 2014. Old Stadium, Phnom Penh

More red-cards than goals beneath the twin towers of the Old Stadium hemmed in by houses. A relative island of tranquility off the Monivong Roundabout a stone's through from the historic French Embassy and a stadium a relic of the pre-independence era. Today one of the new colonists - Japan - as represented by Cambodian Tiger FC whose club mission, courtesy of Google Translate is the suitably bizarre:
The foundation of the Cambodian terrain that has been filled with red and blue is the color of Cambodia national flag, to draw a heroic figure of tiger is the strength of the symbol on it, I can not express strongly strong club.
In addition, not only in Cambodia, fighting neck and neck and international club, also included a desire produced a player that pops out to the world


Unfortunately, this year, unlikely they will produce a player to pop out to the world. Neither, though, will National Defence who deservedly won an ill-tempered match to rise to a flattering 4th place in the nascent league table. Defence, cheered on by a combination of boozy army veterans and drum-banging adolescents,  took a first half lead courtesy of a scrappy goal turned over the line, inside the six-yard box, by their most distinctive player the stocky (and anonymous for the moment) number 23. Clearly with some skill, and playing just off the front, he, together with left back (Pom Tola?) was the main conduit of National Defence attack. Visibly tiring as the match went on, and glancing some envious eyes at his two team mates who had involuntary early showers, he dropped back in the second half to play a sweeper role.

The main event of the first half, however, was a genuine punch-up between the two sides. Seemingly initiated by an agricultural tackle by a National Defence player punches were thrown and, deservedly, two players show straight reds.

Cambodian Tiger are clearly attempting a professional approach. A website - http://www.cambodian-tiger.com/ - an updated Facebook feed https://www.facebook.com/cambodiantigerfc




We are sorry for today....

We will do our best next game...
Thank you for your support...

And, at half-time, a tiger mascot prowling the sidelines. If only any were left in Cambodia's forests. 



In the second half Cambodian Tiger obtained a man advantage. A rapid break pulled down by the last National Defence defender barely inside their half. A unprofessional professional foul - given their earlier finishing such a one-on-one run seemed unlikely to result in a goal - and a deserved red card. 

However the Tigers lacked the carnivorous instincts of their namesakes to take advantage. 

The rather ineffectual (bar one side-step) Cameroonian Privat Mbarga was removed. Japanese number 50 Kihara Masakazu entered the play: a very low grade Pirlo - pinging optimistic passes across the ground. On the break National Defence grabbed a second - their Japanese export Tatsuta Kazuki with the goal. 

Tigers still pressed and the largest man of the field - for whom size appeared to be his most significant virtue - yet another Japanese Yoshihata Masato headed in from a corner prior to the final red card which equalised proceedings at 9 players each. 

Then came the time-wasting - if the susceptibility to minor knocks of this National Defence 11 represents that of the countries national defence then Preah Vihear is in trouble . A merited 6 minutes of added time but no additional goals.

Three points for the Defence. Cambodian Tiger one win in four.

Elsewhere over at the Tonle Bati National Football Centre a remarkable win for Boeung Ket Angkor 12-2 over Krivong Sok Sen Chey. Eight goals for the genuine star of Cambodian football Chan Vathanaka. Naga World beat CMAC United 3-0 at the same venue.

Todays Fixtures:
Asia Europe University (12th) vs Phnom Penh Crown (3rd). 15h30. RSN Stadium
Build Bright United (5th) vs Police Commissary (8th). 15h30. Old Stadium
Svay Rieng (7th) vs Western Phnom Penh (6th). 18h00. Svay Rieng Stadium.

The current table (courtesy of Sabah.com.kh):






1 comment:

  1. They wasnt just cheered on by boozy army vets and drum banging adolescents , they was also cheered on by me a boozy barang English teacher.

    ReplyDelete