5. A Relegation 6-Pointer

 


A mixed bag of results has seen us lose two draw one and win one game during my 4-game tenure so far. On our day I believe we can compete with anyone, but there are weaknesses in the team especially in defence. As the next transfer window is not until the end of the season, I have only free agents to sign, of which in a small nation like Cambodia are few and far between. In fact my first player search resulted in no players in any position being available. For now I will have to work with what I have.

Our next match is a real six-pointer, against the team directly below us, Soltilo Angkhor. While the North Koreans were running rampant to steal the match from us against Vishaka, our relegation rivals recorded a comfortable 5-2 win over bottom of the table side, Kampong Cham, reducing the deficit between the sides to four points. Therefore a win for them in our forthcoming fixture would cut that to just one point. Then anything could happen...

 Match 5- Soltilo Angkhor v EDC 

22/08/20

Pre-Match Thoughts

Big game this, if you look at the table. Soltilo Angkhor lie 4 points below us in the first relegation spot. A win for them puts them only 1 point behind and drags EDC firmly into a relegation scrap, while a win for us pulls us up the table and 7 points clear of trouble. I’m going in with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Veasna starting on the right, Udom in the AMC role behind Chanraksmey. They have a lost Brazilian which needs containing called Matheus who can pull the strings from midfield, plus a talented Japanese expat, Kogure who will need watching too. Nara stays in the midfield with his marking of 11 to try and snuff him out. Fingers crossed!


Team: 4-2-3-1 Kong Rafat, Chan Dara Daravon, Makara, Theara, Nara, Punlock, Saray, Udom, Veasna, Chanraksmey

Subs: Chammeroun, Ratana, Rotha, Chum, Chetra, Sengdara, Sedsody 



 Soltilo Ankgkor 2- 2 EDC

Kogure 53, 91                       Punlock 53, Rotha 93

Phewww we were lucky to come away with a point here. After a drab first half, with the only two highlights being a saved penalty from our ever improving goalkeeper, Kong Rafat and Chanraksmey hitting the bar with a header from a delicious Veasna cross. Enter the second half and I switched to 4-4-2 with Udoum making way for Chum up front. I kept the two holding midfielders to keep their talented midfield at bay. We took the lead. Veasna floated a far post corner and Nun Punlock arrived late to nod home. We looked threatening for a 2nd goal, but then a corner out of completely nowhere for them resulted in an equaliser courtesy of their impressive Japanese player, Kogure. Then EDC pushed forward with Veasna pulling the strings down the right and Chansraksmy going close. Chum then had a goal disallowed, but he was clearly offside (no VAR in the C-League.)  Just when I thought we had gained a point, a breakaway from our throw in down the left saw Long Makara square for Abban whose shot hit the post, only for Kagure to pounce on the rebound to seemingly break EDC hearts in the 91st minute. Ten minutes earlier I took a punt and introduced a striker, Phanny Y Rotha who I had not used much before, but already had 4 C-League goals to his name for Chanraksmey our best striker. In the dying moments of the game, Dara ran forward from left back, who found another sub, Chetra in the box, who cleverly squared it to the onrushing Rotha to poke home at the far post for 2-2 in the last kick of the game!. Relief! I’ll take this, I would have preferred a win, but Soltilo proved to be a good side, whose position in the table belies their ability. That last minute equaliser from Phanny Rotha could be a lifesaver this season!

Click Here for Part 6 - Phanny's Keeping The Lights On





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