Kingdom of Wonder vs the Thunder Dragons.

Cambodia 2 Bhutan 0
Olympic Stadium 21-8-2015

Bhutan’s alternative to GDP is Gross National Happiness, the country has more than 70% forest cover, and over 100 tigers. They even believe in Yeti's. Cambodia have Hun Sen.

However under the lights of the Olympic Stadium Gross National Happiness was no match for the Angkor Warriors. 

Although Bhutan often looked, comfortably, the most technically competent of the teams - FIFA ranking 164 vs 180 -   Cambodia dominated and created chance after chance. However poor decision-making, nerves, and at time comical finishing all let the Khmer down in the penalty area. Whilst, based on chances, the final score could have been 4 or 5 nil Bhutan were fast and you felt a counter-attacking goal was never far away. That one did not come was a credit to Cambodia and also the voluble and large crowd; less than in the World Cup Qualifiers earlier but a far thing from the echoing emptiness of youth football or even the Metfone C League.

Cambodia played with a 5-3-2 with wing-backs Chiin Chouen (National Defence) and Rous Samoeun (Boueng Ket) providing much of the attacking impetus. The 3 centre-backs were less involved and when Bhutan broke forward looked a little shaky. 

The goals came - one in each half - courtesy of Rous Samoeun and number 14, who showed touches of pace and flair particularly in the second half, Keo Sokpheng (PP Crown). Chances continued coming for Cambodia in the second half - a recurring sight heads-in-hands on the field and in the stands. 

Next up for the Khmer a daunting trip to Saitama to face Japan  - keeping the score to single figures could be a result.