Week Seven Talking Points
Unlike in the UK, where
festive football fixtures feature, another break in the Cambodian league for
the King’s Birthday holiday. So, a little, late, but here are some key points
from the leagues’ 7th round of fixtures.
RSN aiming for a good spectator experience
A nice stadium, cheap
and plentiful beer, and even professionally designed match programs; Phnom Penh
Crown are doing their best to create a pleasurable match-day experience. Even
the parking, which was horrendous for the previous rounds fixture versus league
leading Boeung Ket Angkor, had been improved for the visit of Svay Rieng.
Unfortunately the offering on the pitch doesn’t quite live up to the surrounds.
Only matches involving similarly underwhelming Nagaworld have had as few goals as
Crown matches this season.
|
Team
|
Goals
per match
|
Scored/match
|
Conceded/match
|
|
CMAC United
|
5.57
|
2.14
|
3.43
|
|
Western Phnom Penh
|
4.86
|
1.43
|
3.43
|
|
Boeung Ket Angkor
|
4.71
|
3.86
|
0.86
|
|
Svay Rieng
|
4.43
|
2.71
|
1.71
|
|
National Defense Ministry
|
3.86
|
2.86
|
1.00
|
|
Cambodian Tiger
|
3.86
|
1.71
|
2.14
|
|
Asia Euro United
|
3.57
|
1.14
|
2.43
|
|
National Police
|
3.14
|
0.86
|
2.29
|
|
Nagaworld
|
2.29
|
1.29
|
1.00
|
|
Phnom Penh Crown
|
2.29
|
1.29
|
1.00
|
The provincials visited
the RSN with an artificially inflated league position – no side had enjoyed an
easier early run-in than Svay Rieng and they deservedly lost a narrow game at
the home of the Champions. George Kelechi came off the bench in the second-half
to head home the game’s only goal with 5 minutes left. The Nigerian connecting with
an excellent corner delivered by the otherwise anonymous Keo Sokpheng. Crown
are very solid at the back but struggle to create many opportunities – wide
attacker In Sodavid looks promising but some of the best attacking flair came
on the rare occasions that French centre-back Anthony Aymard ventured into Svay
Rieng’s half. The visitors, cheered on by some boisterous away fans, looked
more incisive once Prak Mony Udom came on from the bench with Ugandan Mohammad
Latif offering some flair and Cruyff-turns but little decisiveness.
Joint League Leaders get their wins
In slightly contrasting
styles both league leaders, Boeung Ket Angkor and National Defense, claimed all
three points. The former demolished National Police on the back of a four-goal
haul from national team striker Khoun Laboravy. For the Army a less convincing
2-1 home win over the leagues bottom-side Asia Europe; the North Korean duo of
Choe Myong-ho and Kim Kyong-hon getting the goals. The former leads the
goal-scorers chart with 10 strikes.
Three sides remain winless
Seven games into the new
season and still three sides: National Police, Western Phnom Penh, and Asia
Europe have yet to register a win this season with the teams having a combined
minus 33 goal difference after seven games a-piece. With relatively tough
matches again for all three in round 8 in may be a while before either pick up
a win.
Top Match of Next Week
National
Defence vs CMAC Utd, Sunday 22nd 15h30, Army Stadium
Two teams who have
outperformed their respective pre-season expectations meet in Sunday’s early
kick-off. National Defence top the league on the back of the goals of North
Korea’s Ronaldo Choe Myong-ho whilst the mine-clearers currently sit comfortably
above the relegation battle. South African Matthew Rhoda scored the second
season hat-trick for a CMAC player in their 4-2 win over Western Phnom Penh in
their last outing and the partnership with the 6 goal Nigerian Timothy Okereke
looks promising.
State of the League
|
Season
|
Round 7
|
|
|
Goals
per Game
|
3.86
|
4
|
|
%
foreign player goals
|
56.4
|
45
|
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