National Defence 3 - 0 CMAC Utd.
Army Stadium, 22nd May 2016
The colonial era Stade Chas. A large manually operated cricket-style score board with a tiled roof overshadowed by the soaring brick pillars which peak above the houses and overlook the busy Monivong roundabout. The quaintest of the four Phnom Penh stadia but home to a team who are seriously challenging for the Cambodian title.
With title rivals Boeung Ket Angkor completing a stunning come-from-behind win versus stuttering Svay Rieng the previous evening the pressure was on the hosts, Army, for this afternoon kick-off. Opponents CMAC Utd had exceeded pre-season expectations and provided a relatively stern test. Nevertheless the Army were the stronger team and dominated possession on the fraying natural grass surface. North Korean Kim Kyong-hon was excellent; playing in a more advanced position than earlier in the season his skillful touches created space and opportunity.
At times Army seemed to, in Arsene Arsenal fashion, want to walk the ball into the net – plenty of tidy possession and balls across the six-yard box but no killer finish. However the second North Korean, the less hard-working and chunkier but mightily effective Choe Myong-ho, sealed the deal. Converting a soft first half penalty before adding the 3rd goal in the 85th minute. Myong-ho now has 12 goals in his debut Cambodian season. Level in the scorers chart with The Prodigy CV11.
Between the North Korean dual strikes the busy Army captain Phoung Soksana, number 99, doubled the advantage with his 4th strike of the season whilst midfielder Chreng Polroth also looked good and delivered a number of excellent set-pieces.
The mine-clearers had their moments. South African Matthew Rhoda came close to equalising early in the second half with a cracking volley. Half-time substitute the giant Nigerian Okereke Timothy was a handful for the Military’s defense which was anchored by the bleached hair of Taku Yanagidate.
But ultimately a 3-0 win for the hosts who are level on points with Boueng Ket Angkor as the season’s half-way point draws near.
Army Stadium, 22nd May 2016
The colonial era Stade Chas. A large manually operated cricket-style score board with a tiled roof overshadowed by the soaring brick pillars which peak above the houses and overlook the busy Monivong roundabout. The quaintest of the four Phnom Penh stadia but home to a team who are seriously challenging for the Cambodian title.
With title rivals Boeung Ket Angkor completing a stunning come-from-behind win versus stuttering Svay Rieng the previous evening the pressure was on the hosts, Army, for this afternoon kick-off. Opponents CMAC Utd had exceeded pre-season expectations and provided a relatively stern test. Nevertheless the Army were the stronger team and dominated possession on the fraying natural grass surface. North Korean Kim Kyong-hon was excellent; playing in a more advanced position than earlier in the season his skillful touches created space and opportunity.
At times Army seemed to, in Arsene Arsenal fashion, want to walk the ball into the net – plenty of tidy possession and balls across the six-yard box but no killer finish. However the second North Korean, the less hard-working and chunkier but mightily effective Choe Myong-ho, sealed the deal. Converting a soft first half penalty before adding the 3rd goal in the 85th minute. Myong-ho now has 12 goals in his debut Cambodian season. Level in the scorers chart with The Prodigy CV11.
Between the North Korean dual strikes the busy Army captain Phoung Soksana, number 99, doubled the advantage with his 4th strike of the season whilst midfielder Chreng Polroth also looked good and delivered a number of excellent set-pieces.
The mine-clearers had their moments. South African Matthew Rhoda came close to equalising early in the second half with a cracking volley. Half-time substitute the giant Nigerian Okereke Timothy was a handful for the Military’s defense which was anchored by the bleached hair of Taku Yanagidate.
But ultimately a 3-0 win for the hosts who are level on points with Boueng Ket Angkor as the season’s half-way point draws near.
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