19. From a 1 horse race to a 5 horse race
Currently EDC are together in electric dreams, over halfway through the season, eight points clear and favourites one would think to easily do the unthinkable and win the Cambodian C-League at a canter. Football though is a cruel game and Football Manager can be even crueller when the inner gods which lurk inside the game suddenly turn against you... Add to that complacency and tiredness and suddenly what seemed so simple can become very difficult indeed...
Match 21: EDC v National Defence –
Prime Minister’s Cup Quarter Final
Pre-Match Thoughts
After a
great run in the league we now turn our attentions to The Prime Minister’s Cup
Quarter final against National Defence. I really wanted a good cup run this
season and thought at the start this would be our best chance of silverware
because there was no way we could win the league. As things have turned out
there is a chance we could do a league and cup double, which given where this
team were when I took over is somewhat of a miracle. I go in with my trusted
4-4-2 but with a few changes. Rafat takes over from Channou in goal. I really
like our young keeper and am keen to give him some first team exposure to aid
his development. Udom comes in for the suspended Sung Rot and Rotha gets a game
with Chanraksmy on the bench.
Team: 4-4-2 Kong Rafat, Channerourn, Daravon, Khemarin, Ratana, Etim, O.Udom, Veasna, Saray, Rotha, K.Udom
EDC 4-2 National
Defence
Udom 42,77 ////////// Soksana 36, Muslim 40
Veasna 76 Saray 88
A classic cup-tie which was literally a game of two halves. It was even
with chances at both ends, but Soksana broke the deadlock when he raced clear from a cleared corner. Then, four minutes later a carbon
copy saw Muslim this time break away from our corner and slot past Kong Rafat. What the hell
was going on? Two-nil down at half time! I tweaked my attacking corner routine so
we were better manned at the back if they broke away again from our set piece.
Chanraksmey came on for Rotha and I pumped my fists and told them they had the
ability to turn things around. They listened.
Veasna cut in from the left wing skipped past the full back and squared for Keo Udom who ran onto the ball and slotted past the keeper on his near post. 2-1. We pressed for an equaliser but had to be watchful for their swift counter attacks. Udom, Saray and Veasna came close, but were either saved, blocked, went over the bar or were offside. It looked like being one of those games when suddenly sub Raksa found Tum Saray who ran at the heart of the National Defence Ministry before slipping in Veasna who cut inside the box and found the corner of the net with a fine placed shot.
Then, Chanraksmey received the ball in midfield and ran at the National Defence
before spraying a beautiful ball to Veasna on the left whose low cross found
Keo Udom to sidefoot home. 3-2 what a comeback!
Fasal swung in the corner, the ball was cleared back to him. His cross
evaded everyone except Veasna on the right who cooly laid the ball off to Tum
Saray who placed the ball into the top corner with a great finish. To the semi-finals
we go where we will face either Build Bright United or Second Division outfit, Oddar
Meanchey.
Match 22: Build Bright United v
EDC 30/07/21
It’s builders vs electricians in this latest C-League clash. In fact, if
we worked together, perhaps we could build a new stadium or something.. Anyway
to footballing matters and our high-flying team are still a little tired after
their scintillating comeback in the Prime Minister’s Cup against the National
Defence. Build Bright are struggling in the relegation zone with only 9 points
so I am expecting nothing less than a win. Etim and Raksa are both suspended, while
Channerurn is too tired after his cup exploits and Ratana is rested to the
bench. I give a full debut to young right back Mom Veasna, Makara fills in the
DMC role and Rottanak makes up the numbers on the bench.
Team: Um Channou, M. Veasna, Daravon, Khemarin, Sophahon, Makara, Sung Rot, S. Veasna, Fasal, K.Udom, Chanraksmey
Build Bright United 2-1 EDC
Kongsmarch 38 Sung Rot 45
Tola 74
I knew our
luck had to run out sometime and today was the day. In the end we were second
best and Build Bright thoroughly deserved their win. Stationing three men in
defensive midfield and one AMC with 2 strikers ahead of them foxed us and they
defended for their lives, diving in front of shots, tackling with tenacity and
then counter attacked with precision. It could have been so different if Keo
Udom’s wonder goal after 5 minutes was not mysteriously disallowed for an
offside only the linesman could see. I knew then it wasn’t our day.
Kongsumach
was given the freedom of the Olympic Stadium to waltz his way into the penalty
area before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to make it
1-0 after an even opening half hour. We equalised before half time when Makara
played the ball up to Udom who laid off for Chanraksmey who fired in a shot
which was blocked. The ball fell to Sung Rot who lashed a magnificent shot into
the top corner from well outside the area. Boy we needed that! Then Chanraksmey
thudded the crossbar soon after.
Build Bright
held their nerve and were the better team in the second half as they cut our
static defence open with incisive running and balls over the top. Their deserved
winner came when Leng Tola appeared out of nowhere unmarked in the box to lash
home. We pressed for an equaliser but they were equally dangerous on the break
and could have extended their lead. Disappointed, but this is by no means a
disaster.
Match 24: Svey Rieng v EDC
07/08/21
I think it
was a very complacent performance against Build Bright, a team we really should
have beaten. Svey Rieng may be down in 10th, but they still possess
quality, especially their two lost Brazilians, Pedro Pinheiro and Thiago
Santos. Therefore we play a 4-2-3-1 with Chanraksmey as a lone striker,
supported by the in-form Sung Rot. Channerourn and Ratana in the full back
positions return after being rested against Build Bright. We must be on our
game to beat them.
Team: 4-3-2-1 Channou, Channerourn, Daravon, Khemarin, Ratana, Etim, O.Udom, Sung Rot, Fasal, Veasna, Chanraksmey
Svey Rieng 0-0 EDC
In normal circumstances this would have been a good away point against a
team who thrashed us 4-1 last season. By the standards of this season though it
is a bit disappointing and frustrating. It was not for the lack of trying, in
fact we were by far the better side, against a Svay Rieng team who looked a bit
clueless. In the first half, Chanraksmey came close on numerous occasions, but
his shots were either saved or missed the target. Then Veasna skipped down the
right flank as he so often does, before hitting a perfect cross to Chanraksmey
who smacked the crossbar with a powerful header. That was our best chance of
the game. In the second half the hosts came back into it, but it should have
been three points to us. I hope we don’t live to regret these dropped points at
the end of the season. On a side note this was the first 0-0 draw of my tenure
at EDC and our first draw of the season.
The Best Ever Position for EDC in The C-League
So no matter
what happens in the next seven games before the end of the season, we have
secured our best ever league position in the C-League. Unfortunately Nagaworld
have caught up with us after a 5-2 win over Asia Euro United, so the current
champions are top of the table on goal difference. While I will be a tad
disappointed if we don’t win the league after being 8 points clear at one
stage, the club has progressed so much this season and I am proud of the lads
for all they have achieved so far. To have some silverware to show for it would
be the icing on the cake. The fans are excited that their team will finish in
the highest league position in the club’s short history.
Match 24: Beoung Ket v EDC
25/09/21
A win here
could see us go back to the top of the table with a game in hand over
Nagaworld. After a long rest since our last game, the lads are raring to go.
Unfortunately both Daravon and Khemarin are both suspended so Raksa and Sophina
are marshalling the defence today, I stick to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Beoung Ket
are a good team and will cause us problems.
Team: Channou, Channeroun, Sophina,
Raksa, Ratana, Etim, Ouch Udom, Veasna, Sung Rot, Fasal, Chanraksmey
EDC 3-4 Beoung Ket
O Udom 9 //// Noron 3, 69
Chanraksmey 31 Polroth 51
K.Udom 79 Rozip 67
F***adoodledoo!
Annoyed, disapointed, frustrated, all of these things. First half we did well,
despite going a goal behind when, from their throw in Ivanaldo was left with
time and space to find Noron’s head with a right wing cross 1-0. Then out
of the blue we won a free kick just outside the box, which young Ouch Udom
lashed into the roof of the net, although their keeper could have done better.
1-1. O.Udom floated in another free kick and Chanraksmey climbed above the keeper
to make it 2-1. Young Ouch Udom was running the midfield, but moments after was
cruelly injured after a hefty challenge and he had to go off. From here the
tide turned. After half time it was all Beoung Ket. We barely laid a glove on
them before Polroth picked up the ball ran forward and fired an unstoppable
shot past Channou. 2-2
Then Rizip,
their other centre mid did a similar thing. We cannot get near this lot, it‘s a
bit like Man U v Barcelona in that European Final where Man U just could not
get the ball off Barcelona. Every phase of play started with a green shirt, not
a blue one. Ridiculous! They scored another goal, I was so annoyed I didn’t
even see what happened. Keo Udom pulled one back after an incisive breakaway
instigated by Veasna. Saray went close late on, but we were not good enough
today and on that display do not deserve to be Champions.. Nagaworld are one
point above us, with today’s conquerers, Beoung Ket just one point behind..
This is now a five-horse race for the C-League title and I have to remind
myself that for us to be in the conversation is already a great achievement.
Top of The Table
Match 25 – EDC v National Police
Whoop Whoop,
this is the sound of the Police, Woop Woop This is the sound of the Police. The
Cambodian constabulary are in town and they will be looking to further their
own title ambitions. Ouch Udom who has impressed this season with some
eye-catching performances is still injured, so Long Rothesary is given his
chance in midfield. Saray is preferred to Fasal on the left wing. I line up
4-2-3-1. We need a result here to keep pace with the other teams who have
caught up with us.
Channou, Channerouen, Daravon,
Khemarin, Ratana, Etim, Rothesary, Veasna, Sung Rot, Saray, Chanraksmey
EDC 3-1 National Police
Chanraksmey 7 //// Soksan 87
Nasary (o.g) 32
Sung Rot 41
An arresting display of attacking football saw us come away with a solid 3-1 win. We were
back to our old selves today, strong at the back, creative in midfield and
lethal up front. The Police carelessly gave the ball away. Veasna playing on the
left, picked up the loose ball before feeding Saray on the right who played a
wonderful first time ball to Sok Chanraksmey who did what he does best, find
the corner of the net.
Haha a
criminal goal conceded from the Police. Long Rothesary’s overhit pass did not
look to pose any threat until their goalkeeper, Khek Sambath’s clearance hit
Veasna and trickled into the net. The Police hit the post from a free kick soon
after, but then at the other end, a clever low drilled free kick from Veasna
fell to Sung Rot in the penalty area who stabbed home for 3-0! Soksan scored a
late consolation goal near the end, headng in from a corner, but it was us who
take a deserved three points and go back to the top of the C-League table.
Race For The Title
The race for
the title at the top of the C-League is hotting up, with 5 teams having a chance to win the title with just 6 games left. We have a tough run-in, with the stand out
fixture on 16th October when we travel to the holders, Nagaworld,
which will be the penultimate fixture of the campaign and possibly a title
decider!
Remaining League
Fixtures:
Kirivong (a)
National
Defence (h)
Angkor Tiger
(h)
Nagaworld
(a)
Phnom Penh
Crown (a)
Read The next part here: I'd Love It If We Beat Them Love It!
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