50. Lighting the spark
EDC have started the 2024 C-League season in electrifying form, chalking up 12 matches unbeaten, starting at the end of the previous season and continuing into this. Their form has seen them march into third place and look set to compete with the 'big boys' at the top of the table this term.
Match 6 – Nagaworld v EDC 01/05/24
When the fixture list comes out at the start
of each season, this is the game we look out for first. The nasty casino away!
They will be out for revenge after our little skirmish in the Hun Sen Cup
Final, while I am confident that we can also get a result here. The only
downside is that Ratana is suspended and Pisa cannot play against his parent
club, so in come In Sambath and Run Sokha at left back to fill in. Noron is
preferred to Abdi up front, while Pom Vannak comes into midfield to add
solidity there. Pheara is the unlucky one to drop to the bench. We are both
level on ten points each, with us in 3rd on goal difference and them
in 4th. Math Fasal is excited about our reunion apparently, but he
can get lost. All to play for, with no quarter asked and no quarter given in
what is fast becoming a fierce rivalry.
Team: Som, In Sambath, Daravin, Gbayoro, Sokha, Vannak, Kakada, Pidor, Taboula, Noron, Nhem
Match Action
Nagaworld
make the early running in this one and have a couple of early half chances. We
though look dangerous on the break and Taboula has an early run down the left
which results in Pom Vannak skying the ball over the bar. Nagaworld are having
too many free kicks for my liking. One such free kick though is charged down and like lightening we
spring a counter-attack. Young Samnang Nhem picks up the ball and sprints down the
right. He dribbles past two defenders, before slamming in a shot which is
parried by the keeper, only into the path of Mat Noron who smashes the rebound
into the roof of the net. A brilliant breakaway goal! As we know Nagaworld don’t give in easily.
They dominate possession. From a corner the ball is headed across goal and Man
Ratana is denied brilliantly by Som from just three yards out. Nagaworld
continue to dominate the game, but by hook or by crook our defence holds firm.
Sokumpheak has a shot which just flashes wide, Math Fasal, who has been
excellent runs the full length of the pitch after a sloppy thrown in from In
Sambath, only to be denied by Som. Somehow, and I’m not sure how we lead 1-0 at
the break. I’ve gone back to the formation that served us well in the cup
final, with Pidor in the ‘wandering minstrel’ role.
At the start
of the second half we enjoy a rare spell of possession involving Sambath,
Kakada and Chea Samnang. The ball is laid back to Pom Vannak who flights a lovely
ball to Tabbbboooouuullllaaa Goooooooaaaaaaaallllllll!!! He volleys it first
time past the hapless keeper. What a goal! 2-0 to the EDC! Nagaworld still
dominate possession, but it hardly matters. We are using the ball far more
effectively when we do have it. Another breakaway sees Mat Noron skip past the
defender on the right flank, before laying it off to Pidor whose vicious shot is tipped round the post by Soksela. We look fairly comfortable, until Heng
Chamroeurn, still annoyed by missing all those chances in the cup final gets
the bit between his teeth and cuts inside from the right flank before curling
an unstoppable shot past Som to halve the deficit. We are made of sterner stuff
these days though. I switch the tired Pidor for Pheara. The youngster sprints
down the right before sliding in a delicious ball for Matty Noron who lashes it
home emphatically much to the delight of the travelling support. 3-1. Nagaworld
still don’t give in. Fasal who has been a constant thorn has a shot well saved
by Som. The casino gamble and throw more men forward. We lose concentration and
allow Fasal in unmarked to slide home a late consolation. Then, moments later,
substitute Sovankamarin finds the back of the net, but fortunately it was disallowed for
offside. We breathe a collective sigh of relief and see out the rest of the
game. What a match!
Final Score- Nagaworld 2-3 EDC
Chamroeurn
63
Noron 6,75
Fasal
90
Taboula 47
Match 7 – EDC v National Defence
04/05/24
After the
rollercoaster of the Nagaworld game, we take on re-promoted National Defence in
what should be a straightforward home win. We can go joint top with Angkor
Tiger, while the army side have done well so far this season and lie in 5th. Ratana comes
back from suspension at left back, Pisa returns at right back, but Kakada
misses out due to suspension, so Um Makara starts in defensive midfield and
Samnang returns in centre mid after injury.
Team: 4-3-3 Som, Pisa, Daravon,
Gbayoro, Ratana, Makara, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Noron, Nhem
Match Action
As expected
we dominate possession. From a cleared corner, Sok Oeun Pidor picks up the ball
and flights a lovely ball. Chea Samnang cushion heads the ball to young Nhem
who gallops past the defender and blasts an unstoppable shot into the top
corner from the right edge of the penalty area. Brilliant from the youngster!
National
Defence are winning too many free kicks though and two headers have already
tested Som in our goal. Then, a direct free kick is parried by Som and cleared
off the line by Ratana. Since our goal we can hardly get the ball and they have
a few more half chances. Then Daravon finds Taboula and his fierce shot is well
saved. We have attacked with menace when allowed to, but those opportunities
have been few and far between, 1-0 at the break.
The second
half starts, we really need a second goal here. Pidor looks knackered so I
introduce Pheara and the youngster makes an instant impact as he combines with
Taboula to register a header on goal. We see the game out, with only one or two
random free kick scares which were easily dealt with by our defence. An
efficient performance, albeit not the best, but job done and three more points
in the bag.
Final Score: EDC 1-0 National Defence
Nhem 4
Match 8: Mondul Kiri v EDC – Hun Sen
Cup Second Qualifying Round
We make the
6-hour trip to Mondul Kiri for this cup fixture. Due to the tight scheduling we
did not have time to visit the elephant sanctuary this time, but it was nice to
be back in this beautiful part of the country. We have left some of our stars
back in Phnom Penh, Taboula, Pidor, Daravon, Som and Gbayoro to rest them
because we have another important league fixture coming up against Phnom Penh
Crown. Therefore some fringe and youngsters get their opportunity to shine and
contribute to what is now a squad effort. Professional pride tells me that I
need to take the cup seriously again this year, but this time we are riding
high in the league, so these guys have to step up to the plate too, even if
they are not playing week in week out. I also want to see if Abdi can do it on
a sweltering hot day in May at Mondul Kiri, I suppose the Cambodian equivalent
to a cold February night in Stoke....
Team: Cheng Ravy, In Sambath, Makara,
Khemarin, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pheara, Soun Bath, Noron, Abdi
Match Action
It’s end to
end stuff as the second division side give as good as they get. They have
a free kick which just flashes wide and then Mantornornin shoots wide on the
break. Abdi has a snapshot which is comfortable for the keeper. Soun Bath runs
down the left and picks out Samnang who has a shot well saved. The same player
then tries one of his trademark long range shots which flashes just past the
upright.
Into the
second half and I revert to a 4-2-4. Nothing is happening though and although
we are dominant the players seem to lack the craft to unlock their defence. In
fact we are knackered. Samanag tries another long range effort just wide. We
look a bit toothless to be honest as the match drifts into extra time. We perk
up a bit in extra time but create nothing, meanwhile Mondul Kiri are enjoying
too much possession for my liking. I had one last trump card to play. On the
bench, the veteran Chanraksmey is introduced really so he can take a penalty in
the forthcoming shootout. Fellow sub Pidor picks up the ball in the middle of
the park. He runs forward and flights a lovely ball to Chanraksmey who had
timed his run to perfection. He cooly slots the ball under the keeper and into
the corner of the net. That’s how you do it! 1-0 EDC. Mondul Kiri have a free
kick, but it just flashes wide. Half time in extra time.
We look secure and should see out the game comfortably for a scrappy path to the next round. Then we press the
self-destruct button. Young Pheara plays an aimless ball towards his own goal
to nobody in an EDC shirt. Ly Noron seizes on the loose ball and Chhim Pheng races clear and
slots past Cheng Ravy with just a minute to go on the clock. What was he doing?
One each and the dreaded penalties we have...
Penalty Shoot Out
Mondul Kiri
first Sok Oudom= Sends Ravy the wrong way
Up steps the
veteran, Chanraksmey – Saved by the keeper! Oh dear!
Lim Oudom =
Fires it into the top corner.
Ouk Ratana
for EDC: Finds the bottom corner
Ly Noron =
Low into the bottom corner
Mat Noron =
Saved!
Chhim Pheng.
Fires it hard into the top corner.
Mondul Kiri
win 5-3 on penalties!
Final Score: Mondul Kiri 1-1 EDC
(Mondul Kiri win 5-3 on penalties)
Pheng 120 Chanraksmey 98
EDC are
knocked out of the Hun Sen Cup in dramatic fashion. There will be a new name on
the cup this year! It’s time to concentrate on the league! Young Chhim Pheara is
very upset, but he will learn from this.
We board the bus in a disconsolate mood. For me it is a double-edged sword, while I am disappointed to lose to a team like Mondul Kiri, who we would normally beat standing on our head, the Hun Sen Cup was not really a priority this year. The league for me is the be all and end all. Had I fielded a full strength team we would have won, but on the other hand I do need to give my fringe and youth players their opportunity at some point.
Chhim Phera,
the “Cambodian Wonderkid” sits at the back of the team coach with his head in
his hands. The poor lad is gutted, but he is only seventeen years old and has a
lot to learn, not just in football, but about being a man as well and he isn’t
even that yet. I cannot be harsh on him. Perhaps the more experienced Mat Noron
who made a similar mistake in the Hun Sen Cup Final which led to Nagaworld scoring
a late equaliser which took the match to extra time should have known better, but
poor old Pheara is just a kid. He also has the potential to be one of the best
footballers at the club. As we rode through the East Cambodian countryside on
the long road back to Phnom Penh, I sat down next to him..
“Chhim,
Chhim.. don’t worry about it son, it was one of those things.”
“Boss I
messed up and I am so sorry. If I had that moment again I would have kicked the
ball into Row Z.”
“I know son,
don’t worry you’re a great young footballer
and you will learn by your mistakes.”
“I can’t
help thinking that.... Suddenly the bus ground to a halt.
Oh great,
just what we need.. a bus breakdown in the middle of nowhere..
I marched to
the front of the bus to see what was going on. We were in the middle of rural
Cambodia, not on the M25, so it would be unusual for us to be caught in a
traffic jam.
To my
surprise there were a couple of men standing in the middle of the road flagging
us down. At first I was suspicious that these men could have been bandits.
Perhaps they were EDC fans who needed a lift, maybe they had broken down? All I
knew is we were on a narrow bridge over a large river.
Our bus driver,
Leng Ravy and Nen Borey tentatively got off the coach with their hands raised in
the air to see what these men wanted, which was a little bit worrying. The
players, especially the younger ones who had seldom been out of Phnom Penh,
including the already distraught Pheara all had concerned looks on their faces.
I tried to calm them down while inside was absolutely s******* myself. I looked
nervously down at the river below, thinking this could be a very sticky
situation indeed..
Our concerns
though were quickly dissipated when we saw Ravy and Nen Borey shaking hands
with the men and leading them onto the coach.
“Boss, they
need our help.”
“Do they
need a lift?”
“No boss,
they are fishermen. Apparently, they have caught a very big fish in the Mekong
river, but they can’t pull it out.”
“They were
wondering.. whether the lads could help?”
I thought
about this. What if one of my players injures himself trying to pull a flipping
fish out of a river... This was risky.. but on the other hand... what a great
adventure and a boost to team spirit after our disappointing defeat.
Reluctantly
I agreed and while Nen Borey relayed this to the two fishermen in Khmer, I
instructed the lads to get off the coach and help.
There was a mixture
of intrigue and excitement as we made our way down to the banks of the Mekong
River and to the spot where the two men had caught the fish. Their rod was being
held by a third fisherman who welcomed the sight of sixteen strapping young men,
plus me and my backroom staff scrambling down the riverbank to help them.
We assembled
into a line, forming a chain behind the man with the rod, similar to that of a
tug of war.
“After
three.,. 1-2-3 HEAVE!”
“Heave!”
After
several such heaves finally with a large splash, the large fish was hauled onto
the bank.
I know
nothing about fishing but even I could see that is was a big one!
The fish
turned out to be a female stingray, one of the largest species in the world!
After the players took several selfies with the fish on their phones and to big thanks from the three fishermen we boarded the bus and carried on our merry way back to Phnom Penh. The disappointment of our defeat soon forgotten as the players chatted about the fish. Even Pheara raised a smile as he joined in with the banter and laughter which consumed the coach as we approached the capital.
Match 9: Phnom Penh Crown v EDC
After our
disappointment in the cup, we now take on the Champions, Phnom Penh Crown.
While we are in the dizzy heights of 2nd place, Crown lie in 4th.
Needless to say the big guns are back for this one, with the usual back four
restored and Pidor, Taboula etc returning to the starting line-up. We can now
at least purely concentrate on the league, so our cup defeat could be a
blessing in disguise.
Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro,
Ratana, Vannak, Kakada, Pidor, Taboula, Noron, Nhem
Match Action
We start
brightly. Pidor wins the ball in midfield and feeds Taboula whose shot is well
saved. Then from a brilliant goal kick, Som sends Nhem in on goal, but his
fierce shot is beaten away by the keeper. Pidor then has a go, but his strike
is brilliantly saved. What do we have to do to score? Nhem has another couple
of efforts saved by the keeper who is having the game of his life. It’s only a
matter of time surely? Nhem has another shot acrobatically tipped over the bar.
Pisa picks up the ball and the right back lays it infield for Pidor, who slips
a beautiful ball through for Mat Noron to squeeze a shot past the keeper at his
near post. Taboula has a further effort ruled out for offside. 1-0 at the
break.
The second
half follows a similar pattern to the first, with us dominating. Nhem has
another shot saved after a breakaway. Then on 68 minutes, Noron wins the ball
back brilliantly in midfield and feeds Samnang Nhem, who races clear and fires
past the keeper into the corner for 2-0. More good work from Kakada in midfield
enables him to free substitute Ahmed Abdi. The Somalian Pele provides a finish
the great man would have been proud of. 3-0. Pascal Lamour pulls one back for
the hosts after scrambling home a rebound from a free kick. A brilliant away win against the champions. The front three
and sub Abdi were absolutely superb. To the top of the table we go!
Final Score: Phnom Penh Crown 1-3 EDC
Lamour 89 Noron 42
Nhem 68
Abdi 87
Match 10 EDC v Chhlam Samuth
We aim to
carry on our excellent league form against makeweights, Chhlam Samuth. They of
course have Keo Udom up front and one or two experienced players which may see
them through this one. I make one change, Chea Samnang comes in for Pom Vannak.
Otherwise its the same team which beat The Crown.
Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro,
Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Noron, Taboula
Match Action
It’s end to
end stuff in the opening minutes. Daravon’s mistake lets in Keo Udom but Som is
equal to it. We win a corner after a mazy run from Pidor saw his shot blocked
by the defender. Pidor swings it in and Pelap Taboula rises highest to nod home
off the underside of the crossbar. 1-0 EDC. We have numerous more chances to
extend our lead. Taboula fires wide and Noron smacks the crossbar after good
work from Nhem. Pidor is full of running in attacking midfield He lays off to
Kakada who flights a lovely ball into the penalty area, Noron latches onto it
and fires past the keeper for 2-0. Another breakaway ended up with Taboula who
fired in his second to secure another victory for the EDC. Samuth score a late
consolation through our old friend Mr Udom, but it hardly mattered. We march on
and lead the way after a third of the season.
Final Score: EDC 3-1 Chllam Samuth
Taboula 13,71 Udom 90
Noron 41
EDC can't stop winning in the league and are top of the table after eight matches. Can they march onwards to glory or will it all go Pete Tong (again)? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game!
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