55. Clutching at straws
Source: Flickr
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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