Game Day One: Metfone CPL talking points

Week 1 Take-Aways from the Metfone Cambodian Premier League

A League of Goals

As previously noted C League games have more goals than is healthy. A disparity between teams at the top and those at the bottom results in significantly more ‘exceptional’ score-lines than in more developed leagues worldwide.

The opening round of five CPL games provided further data to fit such a hypothesis. Five games, 24 goals at 4.8 per game. The cosmopolitan nature of the league also reflected – 10 nationalities scoring during Game Day One from Rwandans to North Koreans – 58% of goals scored by foreign players.

The Stars Perform

Shane Booysen, perhaps the best of the foreign players in the league, netted a hattrick for Phnom Penh Crown and was their stand-out performer. I had suggested his third goal was ‘dubious’ but own-goal rules clearly state that:

“ a shot which is already "on target" would not be an own goal even if deflected by the defender. In this case the attacker is awarded the goal, even if the shot would have otherwise been easily saved by the goalkeeper”  

So a hattrick and top spot on the scorers chart for The Booyse.

Joint second place is Chan Vathanaka. CV11 came off the bench for Boueng Ket Angkor and scored twice, including the stoppage time winner, versus Asia Euro United. Cruising at 2-0 up BKA conceded 85^th and 93^rd minute goals before their star player rescued the 3 points with the games final kick.

Goal of the Week

Lucky or perfectly judged?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIls7ebZAIA

A stunning swirling curling top corner strike from Western Phnom Penh’s Sun Bunny as the team with a terrible league record (nine wins across 44 games over the last two C League seasons) obtained a creditable 1-1 draw with Naga World at the Olympic Stadium.

Top Matches of Round Two

Saturday 27^th 15h30. Olympic Stadium

Naga World vs National Defense

The Army opened the season with a convincing win against the Police whilst Naga dropped points against Western Phnom Penh. However the casino sponsored team’s Cameronian striker Privat Mbarga, a close-season signing from Cambodian Tiger for whom he scored 19 goals last season, looked sharp and scored with a nice finish. These are two teams who may be well placed to challenge the Crown-Angkor duopoly for the title so both will be keen on a win and decisive start to the season.

Sunday 28^th 18h00, Svay Rieng Stadium

Svay Rieng vs Cambodian Tiger

Svay Rieng, the only team playing outside the capital, began emphatically with a 6-2 win over potential league whipping boys CMAC United. A sterner test for their second successive home match against Cambodian Tiger who were perhaps unlucky to lose 3-1 in their opener versus champions Phnom Penh Crown. A solid win here and Svay Rieng, who will play at home again in Round 3 prior to the international break, will be very satisfied with their season start.