Asia’s best show their class at the RSN

Phnom Penh Crown 0 – Buriarm United 6

RSN Stadium 18^th Jan 2017

Buriarm. Where they speak Khmer but it sounds just like drunk Glaswegian.

But home to, perhaps, South East Asia’s biggest and most successful football club. A club which, whilst it’s origin may be anathema to British fans raised on football clubs as immovable objects, represents a region, a culture, and the Red Shirts vs the Yellows. And success. Four Thai League titles in the past six years and one of ASEAN’s most dominant teams.

At a packed RSN Stadium this dominance was demonstrated with an apologetically insolent performance. A six nil score line and a display of the relative power of Thai vs Cambodian football. Yet Phnom Penh Crown, who should be applauded for both organizing such a match and ensuring the gate receipts went to charity, were not disgraced.

The star of the show the Berbatov-esque Diogo. A Brazilian previously linked to Arsenal, Liverpool and Fiorentina and with a track-record of goals in Greece with the county’s biggest club Olympiacos. A flat-track bully in Asia – 41 goals in 43 matches in Thailand top division. He only played 45 minutes but scored twice – the first a stunning long range curling precision effort hit with the ease of someone on a riverside promenade. The differential in size and strength between Buriarm and Crown players was striking – a crouching Diogo appeared taller than both of Crown's full-backs.

Nevertheless the home team were not disgraced and a number of positives can be drawn for the upcoming season. Keo Soksela in goal was superb – a number of excellent saves and showing an impressively improved command of his penalty area. Though dimunitive in size the full-backs, the talented Suet Baraing and Suon Neut, worked hard and against less physically demanding opposition will excel. When #10 Keo Sokpheng moved forward, as opposed to dropping deep into midfield, he showed his talent and ability to create.

However it will be the foreign players who will make the difference in the upcoming season and here both reasons for cheer and concern. Shane Booysen was probably the best player in the league two years ago when Crown when the title – a serious injury latter he is back, probably still too good for the Cambodian league, and showing both energy and innovation. An attempted lob of the Buriarm keeper early in the second half came close for Crown. He will score 20+ goals this season for Phnom Penh Crown. 

However on first impressions Ukrainian attacking midfielders Ordnskyi offers little beyond hard-work and willing running and Japanese striker Futa Nakamura may be docked wages for sending his best chance over the stand and into the marshes surrounding the RSN. 

A final word on the motorbike parking.

Shit.

Nothing says Fuck Off to the common man, who make up the majority of Crown's supporters, than the acres given over to cars - who can role up 5 mins before a game and find easier parking - and the total lack of organisation and forethought regarding motorbikes. Getting close to  Black Hole of Calcutta / Koh Pich Crush proportions. A bit of planning, thought and more than 2 people and entrances would sort this out. Hope it is prior to the big AFC cup match at the end of the month.