Police keep on in the middle of the road

National Police 1 – CMAC United 1

Old Stadium

11-3-2017

The hierarchy of the Metfone C-League is relatively clear. Five teams – Phnom Penh Crown, Boeung Ket Angkor, Nagaworld, Svay Rieng and Army - in contention for the league title and six trying desperately to avoid defeats and relegation – Tiger, Asia Europe, Electricite du Cambodge, CMAC, Kirivong Sok Sen Chey, and Western Phnom Penh. Six teams who already this season have a combined goal difference of -32 after only four games each.

The anomaly is National Police Commissary. The sole genuine mid-table team of the league. Unlikely to be good enough for the Post-Season Play-offs but too good to be one of the league’s bottom-feeders.

On Saturday afternoon this pattern continued as undefeated Police remained undefeated following a 1-1 draw with CMAC United at the Old Stadium. A match delayed 15 minutes due to the surreal presence on the pitch of heavy machinery, the type usually fouling Phnom Penh traffic, trying to erect a giant flood light pylon and seemingly unaware of the football match to come.

Once the game started Police were tidy and well organized. Shane Peterson, no disgrace being the second best South African in the league, playing the N’Golo Kante/Makelele holding mid-fielder role superbly alongside South Korean Jeong Hee-jong. Cambodian international Tith Dina was also busy and creative although number 10, and captain, Ol Ravy failed to impress. Peterson is a clear menace from set-pieces and came close a couple of times. However as the game progressed, and Police could not turn their possession into goals, CMAC slowly came into the game and, particularly when the opponent committed men forward for set-pieces, looked dangerous on the break. And against the run of play scored through Ghanian Tutu – his 3^rd of the season.

At half-time Police introduced Sun Vandeth the lively winger moustached like a cheap TV comedian. However CMAC were growing in stature and the half was much more even. Nevertheless Vandeth scored the equalizer mid-way through the second half to secure Police’s third draw in four games.

Solidly middle of the road.

Elsewhere Phnom Penh Crown moved joint top-of-table (an identical record to Svay Rieng) with a 6-1 demolition of the fairly hapless Kirvong Sok Sen Chey. Shane Booysen scored a hat-trick (7 goals for the season in four games). In contrast the new big Brazilian up front Guto looked a little off the pace, at least in the 45 minutes I was at the RSN, but nevertheless bagged a brace in the second half. The champions, Boueng Ket Angkor, dropped points again: a 3-3 draw with Western Phnom Penh at the Olympic Stadium. The CV11-less rubbermen are already five points behind the league leaders.