Defending the Police: Ministry of Defence 4 - National Police 1

National Police 1 - Ministry of National Defence 4

Olympic Stadium, 21 Feb 2016

The Police and The Army.

Two Cambodian government institutions with far from perfect human rights records. Cambodian military spending increased by56.2% between 2010 and 2014 – more than any other ASEAN country. Some of that investment potentially into the football team of the Ministry of Defence looking to improve on last seasons 5^th place Metfone C League finish.

The Olympic Stadium, dynamic and noisy for evening national team encounters, but a sun-baked concrete bowl for this 15h30 kick-off. Groups of people huddled together in the areas of available shade between vast expanses of emptiness.

The astro-turf and sand pitch also impacting play – balls holding up off the abrasive surface; advantageous for attackers perilous for defenders.

The Police started quite positively – keen to use the flanks and with attackers Nuth Sinoun, a close season singing from Western Phnom Penh, and the small Sun Vandeth creative and fairly skilful. However the strike force of Ghanian Michael and South Korean Lee Jae-jin failed to click and as the game wore-on the body language of the pair rapidly declined.

Army began exerting control and took the lead through a header from a corner by captain Phoung Soksana. Soksana was influential, out-working team-mate and national team star Chinn Chhouen, and added a second before the break.

The domination continued in the second half – substitute Ke Vannak scored with his first touch whilst five minutes latter new North Korean signing Choe Myong-Ho scrambled home from close range and celebrated extravagantly. 

The 27 year-old who played in Russia for two years between 2005 and 2008 was described, according to WikiPedia, as “the NorthKorean Ronaldo” [the original Brazilian flavoured one], apparently after winning the 2005 FIFA Asian ‘Star of the Future’ award. We can be fairly sure his planned career trajectory at the time did not involve Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium on a Saturday afternoon.  Nevertheless he, and his mustard yellow boots, stood-out moving across both flanks and being a key part of Army’s attacking manoeuvres.

Michael pulled a goal back for the Police (after 3 games foreign players have scored 64% of all goals in the league) but the Army took three points and look like they could be a solid side this season.