31. Keeping Up With The Nagaworlds

 It's been an interesting season so far. We got off to a great start, but then a mixed bag of results have seen us fall off the pace as we enter the second half of the season. As we know in football though, anybody can beat anybody no matter where they are in the league table. Our big rivals Nagaoworld have been consistently (and annoyingly at the top of the league, with the rest of us, lead by a rejuvenated Angkor Tiger, surprise packages Khemera Keila and us chasing them. Things are taking shape in the C-League and a positive run of results could see us catch our rivals and who knows what could happen then??

Match 18: EDC v Chhlam Samuth

When we last played this newly promoted side I was quite impressed with them even though we managed to beat them 2-1. This is a must win if we are to keep in touch with the top teams, as that costly last minute equaliser against the Defence saw us slip to 4^th and 5 points behind flippin’ Nagaworld. I have nothing to lose now and I am simply going to go for it. I’m playing 4-4-2 with K.Udom partnering top scorer Taboula up front, Ratana slots in at right back and Khemarin deputises for the suspended Daravon in defence. Molly Unmoll is given another chance on the left wing.

Team: 4-4-2 Kong Rafat, Ratana, Khemarin, Saren, Bairaing, Etim, Sung Rot, Veasna, Molly Unmoll, K.Udom, Taboula

EDC 3-0 Chhlam Samuth

Veasna 12,

Sung Rot 61,

K.Udom 87

A good solid win, in which while we did not have it quite all our own way against a competent Chhlam Samuth side, it was exactly what we deserved for a positive attacking display.

In the opening exchanges they gave as good as they got, with Kong Rafat having to pull off two fine saves. It was us though who took the lead on the break. Veasna picked up the ball and found Sung Rot on the right. His cross found Keo Udom, but when his shot was blocked the rebound fell to Veasna who stylishly curled the ball into the top corner for his 7^th goal of the season.

Samuth would not give up though and Kong Rafat was once again called upon to make a point blank save from their dangerous young striker, Touch Sinoun. We were dominating the game though and the deserved second goal came when Etim played a ball down the left channel. The ever willing Veasna retrieved what was seemingly a lost cause. He turned inside before crossing low for Sung Rot to divert home.

The icing on the cake came when from a breakaway, Sok Chanraksmey ran into the right channel and he squared it to the onrushing Keo Udom who couldn’t miss. 3-0. Back up to second we go, just three behind Nagaworld, who could only draw 1-1 with Chamao Khamao.

Match 19 – National Police v EDC 21/08/21

We visit the Cambodian Constabulary in decent form and with plenty of motivation to keep the pressure on Nagaworld at the top of the table. They have a good striker Chen Chitra who must be watched, but the rest of the team look like young special constables, rather than cheif superintendants. I will stick with the 4-4-2 which has served us well with Sos Suhana preferred to young Molly Unmoll on the left wing. Daravon also replaces Pin Saren in the heart of the defence.

Kong Rafat, Ratana, Daravon, Khemarin, Bairaing, Etim, Sung Rot, Sos Suhana, Veasna, K.Udom, Chanraksmey

National Police 3-1 EDC

Chitra 23                                     Taboula 56

Piseth 49

Hosan 90

Oh dear, we got stuffed by the old Bill.. We came unstuck as Chitra and his mate, Piseth tore us apart with a lethal counter attacking game, underpinned by their goalkeeper’s uncanny knack of finding these two from 80 yards away. We were utter crap though. We couldn’t finish, we couldn’t defend and whenever we were caught in possession they just bunted it downfield for Chitra to do his stuff.

It was tit for tat in the opening 20 minutes. Chitra looked a real threat, while Veasna hit the post with a free kick . Then the inevitable happened. All day long Chitra was running in behind. He dribbled into the area and dinked it cutely past Kong Rafat. It was coming and we cannot cope with this guy.,

Miroslav Flippin Klose bug. A perfect 80 yard goal kick ends up at the feet of Chitra (who else) and he squares it for his mate, Piseth with our defence all at sea. 2-0 bye bye title hopes.#

We look clueless, nothing is working and they look like they can get a third any minute. K.Udom shoots wide from inside the penalty area. I shouted at the entire team and demanded more. They listened. Ratana’s hopeful ball forward is into the path of the onrushing Taboula who dribbled into the area and slotted the ball into the corner. 2-1 Game on! We pressed and pressed and came close on a few occasions, but they also looked dangerous on the break.

Then from another Miroslav Klose job, Sok Hosan tapped in a rebound after his first shot was parried by Kong Rafat to seal victory for the flippin Police.. We slip to 4^th and 6 points off the pace, although we still have to play the three teams above us before the end of the season, so some could say, all is not lost… but right now, like Dr Dre I’m still not liking police..

On the way home, the team coach was pulled over by the Cambodian cops, just for them to surround it and chant 3-1 3-1 at us. B******s!!

Match 20 Svay Rieng v EDC 27/08/22

It’s do or die, make or break. If we win our last 6 games of the season we are in with a chance of winning the title, but there is little margin for error. Svay Rieng lie in 11^th and we should beat them, but our away form has been atrocious of late. Therefore I have decided to revert back to our 4-2-3-1 formation and made a few changes to shake things up a bit. Pin Saren comes in for the suspended Daravon (again), O. Udom comes into midfield, Sos Suhana ois given another chance on the left and Taboula up front on his own, with Sung Rot just behind. Oh yes and Chanroeurn comes in for the out of form Ratana.

Team: Kong Rafat, Bairaing, Khemarin, Saren, Channroeurn, Etim, O.Udom, Sung Rot, Veasna, Sos Suhana, Taboula

Svay Rieng 2-2 EDC  

Ly You 7                             Sung Rot 79

Udom 66                            Chanraksmey 83

Well we controlled the first five minutes, created nothing and then let them score. It was all too easy. Their midfielder had the ball in midfield and had all the time in the world to slip in Say You who timed his run to perfection and slipped the ball under Kong Rafat for 1-0. We then controlled the game as our opponents sought to protect their advantage. Etim stung the hands of the keeper with a stunning effort from 25 yards. Time and again we got down the flanks but could not deliver the final pass. Taboula had the ball in the net, but was disallowed for an offside in the build up. Then Pin Saren nodded home from a corner, but again this was chalked off for pushing.. and there’s not even any VAR in Cambodia!! To make matters worse, they got a second, can’t remember how because I was trying to restrain myself from throwing my laptop on the floor in disgust. At 2-0 we were down and out, couldn’t string two passes together and looked like conceding a third. Frustrated and with little else to do, I ‘Demanded More’ from my players. Then suddenly we got a goal back, Bairaing threw the ball in and Veasna squared for Sung Rot to tap home 2-1. Suddenly we sprang into life and remembered how to play football. We drove forward like a pack of dogs chasing a gazelle. Veasna was getting on the ball K Udom was running in behind like last season. From one such run, he squared for the onrushing Chanraksmey who slotted home a dramatic equaliser. It keeps our very faint title hopes alive as we move up to 3^rd.

EDC Youngsters Selected In Cambodian U19s Squad

My young goalkeeper, Kong Rafat and young left back, Ayjoub Joly have both been included in the Cambodian Under 19s squad for the U-19 Asian Championship. The young Angkor Warriors have been drawn against India, Yemen and Saudi Arabia in Group A of the tournament.

Match 21: Nagaworld v EDC 09/09/22

This is a must-win game if we even have the faintest chance of hunting down the league leaders and champions elect, Nagaworld. They will be out for revenge as well after we humped them 4-1 earlier in the season. I go with a cautious 4-2-3-1 formation with Taboula who did well against them up front last time up front on his own. I have tried to motivate Sos Suhana to actually turn up and play like the experienced international he is (albeit for Cambodia). Young goalkeeper Kouch Rithy makes his senior debut while Kong Rafat is away on international duty with the U19s.

Team: Kouch Rithy, Channroeurn, Daravon, Khemarin, Bairaing, O.Udom, Leap Bo, Veasna, Sung Rot, Sos Suhana, Taboula

Nagaworld 1-2 EDC

 Ravy 90                     Veasna 73

                                   K Udom 88

A fantastic result and performance today. Our defence was solid, Kawabata hardly had a kick all game and Kouch Rithy had an excellent debut. The first half was evenly matched with Sung Rot going close and hitting the post, while at the other end, Kawabata shot over the bar and Math Fasal also wasted a glorious chance to rub our noses in it.

In the second half we carried on where we left off and created chances, but still couldn’t score. Taboula who was inneffective was replaced by Chanrakmey and Ouch Udom’s industry in midfield was sacrificed for the firepower of Keo Udom. This seemed to work.

Keo Udom intercepted the ball and fed Chanraksmey. The veteran striker didn’t have the pace to do it himself, and wisely laid it right to substitute, Tuy Oudom, whose extra pace allowed him to advance down the right flank. His pinpoint cross was met by the head of Veasna who diverted it past the onrushing keeper., Yees!! 1-0!

Then from Khemarin’s free kick, Keo Udom outmuscled his marker, before turning smartly onto the ball and finishing smartly past the keeper, sending our travelling fans into raptures. This season ain’t over yet!

They pulled one back through Ly Ravy’s acrobatic effort, but it was a mere consolation. A great result and performance and we have done the double over Nagaworld this season! Up to second we go and five points behind Nagaworld. Watch out Nagaworld, Jonny Rudd’s Electric Army are coming for you!

A thrilling win against the league leaders Nagaworld sees EDC close the gap to five points, with just five games left. Can EDC keep up the pressure and will Nagaworld implode, or will Khemera or Angkor Tiger sneak ahead in the C-League Title Race? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!!!