55. Clutching at straws



                             Source: Flickr




There are just three games to go in the 2024 Cambodian C-League season and mathematically we still have a very slim chance of winning. We must win our three remaining games against  bottom of the table Wat Phnom, Boeung Ket and hope that Angkor Tiger and Nagaworld lose both their games and that's just to take it down to a last game showdown with the Tiger at The Electricity Stadium. We trail by seven points and Nagaworld have somehow got in the way.. Anyway all we can do is do our bit and win the next two games and hope...

 Match 25 – Wat Phnom v EDC

Mathmatically we can still win the C-League title, but we must win the final three games, starting with bottom of the table Wat Phnom and hope other results go our way. The final game of the season is of course against Tiger, so I must get within three points of them for a final day showdown. I make a few changes, forced by international call ups. Up front Soun Bath makes a rare but not undeserved start, Kakada comes back into midfield, while Ratana also returns at left back.

Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Bath, Noron, Taboula

We start brightly and in the third minute, Pidor smacks the post with a free kick. Frustratingly the clock keeps ticking. They have shot well saved by Som.. We look good in the build up but the final ball is lacking. It’s starting to get a little frustrating. Bath has a shot blocked, as does Noron.. Then.. Pidor floats in a free kick and young Soun Bath ghosts in to sidefoot home from six yards. 1-0 at the break. Into the second half and Wat Phnom start brightly The ball is worked to Ouch Rithy who is met by Gbayoro on the edge of the box. He wins the ball.... Penalty.. ehh what? Touch Sinoun steps up.. and strikes the outside of the post.. justice done. We re-assert dominance, Taboula looks lively, but it is Pidor who once again provides the ammunition. His pinpoint free kick is met by the head of Anderson Gbayoro at the far post for a 2-0 lead.

Sok Oeun Pidor is running the show in attacking midfield. He wanders across the field before flighting a lovely ball for Taboula who uses his strength and skill to barge past his defender before slotting cooly into the corner for number three and his 20th goal of the season. Number four came when Chea Samnang put in a beautiful cross for Suon Bath to nod home his second of the game. A good solid win which keeps the pressure on the top two.

Final Score: Wat Phnom 0-4 EDC

                                              Bath 39,70

                                             Gbayoro 56

                                            Taboula 62



Angkor Tiger win The C-League Title

However as the final whistle was blown at the Electricity Stadium, news from across the city of Phnom Penh was bad as Tiger had stuffed the National Defence 4-0, meaning that they had won the 2024 C-League Title. 


The Tiger finally got away from us, although it was fun trying to keep up with them. Those four straight defeats proved to be the undoing of our title challenge, but Angkor Tiger remained consistent and have been the best team all season. Congratulations to them from all at The Electricity Stadium and I’m sure as they are a beer company they will sucessfully organise a booze up in a brewery to celebrate...

International Round Up

Young Samnang Nhem was on the scoresheet as Cambodia U19s stunned Australia U19s 3-2. My other players didn’t fair so well, although Ajoub Joly got an assist in the same game. Ratana still my sole representative in the senior squad played in a 2-1 defeat to The Phillipines.

Min Rattanak kicks a football

Midfielder Min Rattanak, who you may remember ended up flat on his back with a damaged spine during a Hun Sen Cup tie against Tor Kraham is back doing some light training and kicking a football, which is great news for all at EDC. While it is unlikely he will feature for us this season, hopefully he will be raring to go for the next campaign.

Match 26: EDC v Boeung Ket

We are bedevilled by suspensions and international call ups at the moment, so we are not quite at full strength for this dead rubber against Boeung Ket. It’s really a battle for third place, as Angkor Tiger and Nagaworld are now too far ahead. I’ll just name the team..

Som, Pisa, Ratana, Sokha, In Sambath, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Taboula, Noron, Bath



Match Action

We start well, but its Ket who have the first chance, when Omakafe flashes a header which is tipped over the bar by Som. We have been pretty useless so far and Boeung Ket have been all over us. The dangerous Omakafe has had a few chances, while his partner, Perrot missed a sitter to open the scoring How it is still 0-0 god only knows. We are better in the second half and have stemmed the flow of attacks and come back into the game. Chea Samanag skips past two defenders on the right flank and his peach of a cross finds Noron whose header smacks against the crossbar. This seems to stir Boeung Ket into life, who have numerous chances themselves, but face an immovable object in Sokumdara Som, He pulls off a couple of worldies to stop Chhim scoring and then the same player hit the post. We manage to win a corner after good work from young Ung Samanag who released Taboula down the left channel, but was slide tackled out from a corner. Taboula floats in the corner, which is glanced in off the upright by young Sok Panha for the ultimate smash and grab in the 92nd minute. We were dreadful for the most part, but still managed to win, somehow..

Final Score: EDC 1-0 Boeung Ket

Panha 92


Khemera win the Hun Sen Cup

There was another new name on the trophy as Khemera Keila enjoyed their day in sun at the Olympic Stadium, beating the National Police 2-1 in the final. A popular victory for many I’m sure! Nobody wanted the police to win in it...

Great Dynamics Screen


I had a rare foray into the Dynamics and Squad Hierachy screens and it’s nice to see it all in green. The team have great cohesion and will do anything for eachother, while every one of the 53 players at the club (even Abdi), who is still in the reserves, are happy.

Annual Youth Intake

This once again caught me by surprise on 18th October. My head of youth development, Chan Vannak had been even more like a cat on a hot tin roof in the last couple of days than usual, so I should have guessed. This is (whisper it quietly) a ‘golden generation’ and well worth having a look at apparently.....

New Youth Players

Lamine Santos (MC) 15

Our first new recruit is a young midfielder with some promise, with an excellent first touch and decision making at just 15 years old.

Savy Theara (ST) 15

A young striker with a finishing that matches his age!

Sambath Mom (ML/AML)

A pacy left winger with decent potential.

Sob Udom (DC)

A tough tackling defender who I hope will reach his potential.

Udom Sann (ST)

Another striker with great potential to join the lengthening queue to the first team.. His finishing is older than his age a whopping 18!

Sok Vandeth (DL) 

A young left back with some potential and a tackling of 10 which is good for his tender age.

Taing You (GK)

A talented young goalkeeper who will look to make an impression.

Sann Dara (MC)

A talented young creative midfielder, already with a passing of 13. Could even make it to the first team.

Sok Makara (DRLC)

A versatile defender who has some potential.

Kouch Mol (DR)

A young full back who may get an opportunity if I don’t find a new right back soon!

Match 27: EDC v Angkor Tiger 02/11/24

The 2024 C-League season was supposed to hinge on today. A showdown to end all showdowns, a title decider, which was set to grip the whole of Cambodia. Little EDC vying for their first ever league title against the big Cambodian brewery..

Instead this is a dead rubber. With Tiger crowned as champions and us guaranteed at least 3rd place, we are merely playing for pride. I am determined to field as strong a team as possible and lay down a marker for next season. A win here and we gain the physiological advantage over the Champions.

Team: Som, Pisa, Daravon, Gbayoro, Ratana, Kakada, Samnang, Pidor, Nhem, Noron, Taboula

Match Action

We start brightly. Nhem is making a nuisance of himself on the right flank and he waltzes past his defender before fizzing a shot just wide. Good signs. Then Pidor and Noron combine to set up Taboula whose placed shot is just inches wide. Chatanranda at the other end has a fierce shot tipped over by Som. On 25 minutes, Pisa, Samnang and Nhem combine. The latter lays it inside for Pidor on the corner of the area. He drills a low cross into the box where Mat Noron sweeps home the opening goal. Brilliant! Tiger though show why they are champions. The ball is played up to the Brazilian Marques who beautifully spins Daravon and gallops into the box, where he squares for Timothy Okerke to tap in a simple equaliser. One each at the break.

Tiger have the bit between their teeth in the second half. Sub Jalalov gallops down the right before putting in a teasing near post cross for Okereke to stab towards goal, but the ball is met by the hand of Som who deflect it wide for a corner.

We re-assert dominance but create few clear cut chances. Noron has a shot which whizzes over the bar, while Okereke has a chance which he skied over the bar. The game petered out into a draw, but we won on points and means we fear nobody going into next season.....

Final Score: EDC 1-1 Angkor Tiger

           Noron 26                 Okereke 27


Final League Table


Final League Table

Angkor Tiger 61 (c)

Nagaworld 59

EDC 54

Boeung Ket 51

National Defence 46

Phnom Penh Crown 45

National Police 36

Khemera 32

Prek Pra 26

Chhlam Samuth 25

Build Bright United 23

Svay Rieng 20 (R)

Chmao Khmao 15 (R)

Wat Phnom 14 (R)

Well, that’s the end of another season folks I finish in 3rd place with 54 points.... Let's see what next season brings...

EDC were once again the bridesmaids in the Cambdian C-League. As they enter yet another Christmas transfer window, can they hold on to their best players and further strengthen the squad to mount a title challenge once again in 2025? Find out next time on The Ultimate World Football Manager Game! 

Read Part 56 End of Season 5 Here!





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