32. Opportunity Knocks
The Title Race Is Hotting Up!
There are just five games left in the season and if we win them all, the FM Gods are favourable and the Almighty Buddha is smiling upon us, then the C-League Title could be come home to Prey Veng for the first time.
Nagaworld 45 pts
Khemera 41
EDC 40
Angkor Tiger 39
Boeung Ket 39
EDC Sign Mat Noron
We really didn’t need another striker, but this guy is quality (for this league) and I couldn’t resist. He could make a real difference and help take the pressure off Taboula and Chanraksmey, the latter who is not getting any younger.
Youngsters
Released
I have had let go a couple of youngsters who have been hanging around in the reserves and U21s, Mat Rakasmey, a right winger who made one sub appearance and Pov Chandara, a left back who never really progressed from the Under 21s. There may me more to follow as I seek to trim my squad to a more manageable size.
Match 22 – EDC v
Solitio Angkor 17/09/22
Game on! We need to keep the pressure on and win this one against Solitio, who have been in a decent run of form themselves to propel them up to 7th. We go in with an attacking 4-4-2 diamond with new signing Noron starting alongside Taboula. Etim comes back in midfield and Tuy Oudom starts on the right after impressing as a sub against Nagaworld.
Kouch Rithy,
Channroeurn, Daravon, Khemarin, Bairaing, Etim, Sung Rot, Oudom, Veasna,
Taboula, Noron
Match Action
We didn’t have it all our own way for much of the first half. Noron and Taboula were being tightly marked and we kept giving the ball away too cheaply to our opposition, who attacked in numbers. A switch to shorter passing and wing play brought results. Veasna received the ball on the left flank, before providing a pinpoint cross into the path of the onrushing debutant, Noron who guided it past the keeper into the corner of the net.
Raymond Etim, the poor man’s Ngolo Kante, intercepted the ball beautifully in midfield, before striding forward and slipping in Taboula down the left channel. He dribbled to the bye-line before checking back and sliding the ball across for Noron to tap in number two!
A slick passing move resulted in Veasna being released down the left. His intellegent ball to Taboula resulted in the Nigerian cooly slotting home for number three
Solitio had too much posession for my liking and this resulted in Makara tapping in from close range after a well worked move. 3-1. They scored again to make it 3-2 in the 82nd minute causing a few nerves at the end of the game, but we pulled through with a bit of frequent time-wasting. We are now just two points behind Nagaworld, but the leaders have a game in hand.
All we need to do is keep winning and keep the pressure on Nagaworld and if the FM Gods are smiling on us, you just never know!
A more convincing win than the scoreline would suggest and certainly deserved.
Final Score:
Noron 29,46 Makara 77
Taboula 53 Vannak 83
Nen Borey gets a National A Licence
During my reign at EDC I have always encouraged my staff to study for their coaching badges, to improve themselves and the training of the squad. My assistant manager, Nen Borey has now reached National A License level. Well done Nen, onto the Continent now!
Top Of The Table After 22 Matches
Nagaworld 46
Khemera 44
EDC 43
Angkor Tiger 42
Boeung Ket 42
It’s getting tight at the top of the table and with just four games left it’s all to play for. Our run in sees us take on 2 of the top 5, starting with Boeung Ket.
24th Sept – Boeung Ket (h)
1st Oct – Rithy Sen (a)
15th Oct Phnom Penh Crown (a)
29th Oct Khemera (h)
If we win all these game we have a chance, if other results go our way.
Match 23 – EDC v
Boeung Ket 24/09/22
Revenge is very much the word on everybody’s lips around Prey Veng, as we prepare to take on the Champions, Boeung Ket. Earlier in the season they inflicted a 5-1 thrashing, which was to date my biggest defeat as manager of EDC. While this result was a shock which halted us in our tracks, our results have picked up since and we somehow find ourselves above our opponents in the table and just three off the top with just four games to go. It goes without saying that we must win all of these to stand a chance of snatching the title off our rivals Nagaworld, who have led for much of the season.
Ket play with a typical 4-2-3-1 with Omakafe leading the line and three in midfield. To try and negate this I will put Etim and Leap Bo as two holding midfielders, with Sung Rot playing just off Noron up front and Pin Saren stepping in for the suspended Maul Daravon in defence.
Team: Rithy, Bairaing, Saren, Khemarin, Channroeurn, Etim, Leap Bo, Oudom,
Veasna, Sung Rot, Noron
Match Action
We started the game well. Noron looks a threat in behind, while Sung Rot is finding space in the withdrawn striker role.
Then Oh Dear! A Miroslav Klose bug goal. Sovakhmarin outmuscled Khemarin, ran through on goal and fired it past Rithy. We dominate the game again, Noron shot wide when clean through and Sung Rot had a shot well saved. A header from the same player goes tantilisingly across the face of goal, but nobody was there to tap it in. 1-0 down at half time.
I make two changes. Taboula comes on for Leap Bo and joins Noron up front while Sos Suhana comes in on the left, with Veasna switching to the right, I play a diamond in midfield. I’m going for broke..
We started the second half brilliantly, with Veasna volleying just over, but then the sucker punch. From a random free-kick, Khemarin was adjudged to have pushed their striker, resulting in a penalty kick. Mao Sovan sent Rithy the wrong way for an undeserved 2-0 lead..
Then hope. Etim released Sos Suhana down the left. His accurate cross was acrobatically met by Pelap Taboula for 2-1 Game on!
We pushed and pushed for an equaliser. Suhana and Veasna were threats on the flanks, but their crosses were either cleared or wouldn’t fall for the strikers. Then, late on Sung Rot hit the foot of the post after a smart breakaway. We pushed the Champions all the way here, but as the Scottish say, it just wasnae to be. This all but puts an end to our title hopes for another year, unless results seriously go our way. I am encouraged though that we are now more than a match for anyone in this league.
Final Score: EDC 1-2 Boeung Ket
Taboula 64 Sovankhemarin 28
Sovan 57 (pen)
Opportunity Knocks
The defeat to Boeung Ket has left us down in 5th
place, but strangely just three points off the top of the table. Whatsmore, the
two teams above us, Nagaworld and Khemera both lost to lowly Solitio Angkor and
Chlam Samuth respectively, proving that anybody can beat anybody in the
C-League. We have three games left, win them all and who knows we could win the
jackpot. Opportunity knocks for EDC.. Khemera then lost again to mid-table
National Police 2-1, which means I could leapfrog them if I win the next game
against Rithy Sen.
Nagaworld 46
Khemera 45
Boeung Ket 45
Khemera 44
EDC 43
Match 24: Rithy Sen
v EDC 01/10/22
In our run in, this is the game that we should win and keep
up the title challenge. We beat them 4-1 earlier in the season, but they are
fighting for their lives in 12th place, the top relegation place, so
they have plenty of incentive to spring a surprise.
I will attack with a diamond 4-4-2 formation, with Taboula partnering
Noron up front and Sos Suhana filling the left wing berth with Veasna on the
right. Daravon also comes back from suspension and Ratana will replace
Chanroeurn at the problematic right back position. A must win today.
Team: Rithy, Ratana,
Daravon, Khemarin, Bairaing, Etim, Sos Suhana, Veasna, Sung Rot, Taboula,
Noron.
Match Action
We dominated possesion with Noron and Sung Rot both having
pot shots at goal, both well saved. Then the sucker punch. A breakaway results
in Kanmol breaking clear and delicately finishing past young Kouch Rithy..
Arrgh!
Sung Rot sends Noron clear, but the goal is disallowed for
offside..It’s gonna be one of those days…
Then from a random free kick, Sung Rot fires it into the top
corner. We needed that. One each!
Then from a left wing throw in Bairaing exchanges passes with
Etim, who flights a lovely ball into Taboula down the left channel. He stops,
for what I thought was an offside flag, but the referee waved play on. He dinked
a lovely ball onto the head of Sung Rot who scores his second with a powerful
header. Amazing!
Sung Rot almost makes it three running onto a beautifully
weighted through ball from Veasna, but he shot agonisingly wide.
He did get his hat-trick in the second half. As Rithy Sen
threatened to break away, Ratana got an important foot in. This sent the ball
up to Noron, who laid it off to Taboula, whose simple ball found Sos Suhana. He
slipped the ball through beautifully for Sung Rot who slid the ball home for a
brilliant hat-trick.
Ratana played the ball forward again to Noron, who shrugged
off his marker and passed to Taboula. The Nigerian took one touch before
fizzing a curling shot into the top bins.. You don’t save those. Coasting to
victory now!
Noron, who has terrorised the Rithy Sen defence with his pace
and power has his moment. He bullies the defender off the ball, before
shooting, but the shot is blocked. Taboula picks up the loose ball and slides
him back in again. He provides a cute finish into the corner to make it 5-1. In
the end, a brilliant performance, with the front three of Sung Rot, Noron and
Taboula, outstanding.
Final Score: Rithy Sen 1-5 EDC
Kamol 20 Sung Rot 33, 35, 52
Taboula 55, Noron 75
Kong Rafat & Ayoub Joly Back
from Cambodian U19s
My number one goalkeeper. Kong Rafat and young left back,
Ayoub Joly are back after helping the Cambodian U19s to a quarter finals place.
This represents progress for the Cambodian youngsters, as during the tournament
they held Yemen and Saudi Arabia to 1-1 draws and were narrowly defeated by India
2-1. In the Quarter Finals Cambodia succumbed to Hong Kong 2-0, but it was
great to see a Cambodian team being competitive at international level.
League Table with 2 games left
1st Angkor Tiger 48
2nd Boeung
Ket 48
3rd
Nagaworld 47
4th EDC 46
5th Khemara
44
Match 25: Phnom Penh
Crown v EDC 15/10/22
Two words.. Timothy Okoreke If I stop him I win the game and
take three points which may give us the opportunity to win the title on the
final day. Other results have to go our way of course and we can only stick to
our end of the bargain. Crown are unpredictable opponents but lie in 6th
place, way off the pace and the leaders of the chasing pack that are never
going to catch us in the top 5.
I go with my trusty 4-4-2 but unfortunately Sung Rot is
ineligible as I am loaning him from our opponents. Ouch Udom replaces him and
Kong Rafat is back in goal from international duty.
Team: Kong Rafat,
Ratana, Daravon, Saren, Bairaing, Etim, O.Udom, Veasna, Sos Suhana, Taboula,
Noron
As expected, Okoreke looks dangerous running in behind and he misses the
best chance, sliding a shot wide from another dangerous move. We are giving as
good as we get and Taboula has a goal ruled out for offside.
We have come back into it with Taboula causing problems in
the channels. Then out of nowhere it all unravels. Their goalkeeper plays a
pinpoint goal kick straight to Okereke who sprints forward before sliding the
ball under Kong Rafat. There is literally nothing I can do about that goal, it
is a bug, a stupid bug, which I name after Miroslav Klose and even with the
best laid plans tactically you cannot legislate for it which is just so
annoying..
Maol Daravon, who had kept Okereke quiet challenged him in
the box and did not get back up. He was stretchered off with a groin strain and
young Rum Sokha takes his place. Sub K.Udom got down the left channel before
crossing for Taboula, who’s volley is beaten away by the keeper. Our best
chance of the game.
Ivanaldo crosses from the right and guess who is on the end of
it, the Nigerian Pele himself. 2-0
After some huffing and puffing but the house still standing
we fashion a goal back. Veasna ran forward before playing a beautifully
weighted through ball into the path of sub Keo Udom who cooly finished into the
corner. 2-1.
Taboula has about 3000 chances which end up being saved, wide
or ruled out for offside, while Udom and Veasna came to life in the closing
stages, but to no avail. This result puts paid to our slim title hopes and we
must build again for next season..
On another day we could have won this, Pelap Taboula would have taken the match ball home and we would still be in the hunt for the C-League title, but FM doesn’t work like that. Yes, Crown probably about deserved to win, but only just. Another result that ends this season with too many if's buts and maybes...
Nagaworld Retain The
Hun Sen Cup
It is with some regret that I report that the scum sorry
Nagaworld have retained the Hun Sen Cup after a 1-0 win over everybody’s other
least favourite team The National Police at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium. I
really hope they don’t go and do the double…
Youth Intake Day!
This annual jamboree of young talent spotting has come
slightly earlier this year. My effervescent Head of Youth Development, Chan
Vannak bounded into my office one day
full of it about this latest crop of young talent to descend on Prey Veng. He
reckons this could be a ‘Golden Generation,’ on a par with Giggs, Scholes,
Beckham, Butt and the Neville Brothers…the "Class of 22," as he called them.. I’m not so sure but I agreed to have a look
and sign some of them if I thought they could kick a ball in a straight line!
Match 26: EDC v
Khemera Keila 29/10/22
Our season finally comes to an end with a dead rubber against
Khemera Keila. If you want to put something on this game, it is a battle for 4th
place in the C-League, which in Cambodia really does not make much of a
difference. It’s not like we will qualify for the Asian Champions League, as
only the top team have that privilige. I’m going to put the kids out for this
one and look at some of the fringe players in my now rather bloated squad.
Team: Kong Rafat,
Channroeurn, Khemarin, Sokha, Joly, Leap Bo, Laurent, Dara, Oudom, Samnang,
Chanraksmey
Match Action
This was a miserable end to the season. Our kids looked like
a nervous wreck, especially Ajoub Joly at left back, surprisingly after playing
in the U19s Asian Championships and our more experienced players didn’t look
arsed, which is a real shame,. Mat Dara looked useful on the left hand side,
while Run Sokha looked Ok at the back.
They even went 1-0 up and my young bucks have not even
touched the ball yet. This does not bode well. A lovely move results in an easy
tap in for Ly Saroth 1-0 to them..
In the second half Noun Borey fired Khemera into a 2-0 lead.
We look a bit clueless, but it is just a dead rubber.
I put the cavalry on of K.Udom, Sung Rot and Veasna to try
and turn things around, but to no avail. Half of them were already thinking
about their holidays, including myself.. A lot of work ahead of us this
Cambodian winter if we are to make a serious and sustained title bid next
season. We finish 5th with 46 points.
Final Score: EDC 0-2 Khemera Keila
Saroth 1
Borey 46
Final League Table Cambodian C-League 2022
Angkor Tiger 54
Boeung Ket 52
Khemera 51
Nagaworld 51
Khemera 50
EDC 46
Phnom Penh Crown 40
National Police 37
Solitio Angkor 33
Chhlam Samuth 31
Chhmao Khmao 28
Vishaka 23
Svay Rieng 22 (R)
Rithy Sen 21 (R)
National Defence 18 (R)
Angkor Tiger win The
C-League
After securing a 3-1 win against The National Defence, Angkor Tiger have won the 2022 C-League title. Congratulations go to them from all at Prey Veng.
So it wasnae to be for our friends Electric as they finished 5th in the C-League, eight points off the top. The team has still managed to entertain in patches, but failed to reach the heights of the previous season. Can Rudd keep this promising team together over pre-season, or will the vultures finally get their prey?
Find out next time on The Ultimate Football Manager Game!
Read Part 33 End of Season 3 Round Up Here!
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