65. Keeping up the Pressure
After a dodgy start to the season, we have finally found some form and a run of wins has propelled us up to 2nd in the table on goal difference after ten games. It is though a marathon not a sprint and the mid-season transfer window may have a part to play as envious eyes are cast once again on my talented squad...
Match 12 – Mekong Kampeuchea University v EDC
It’s time to re-visit those obdurate students from the Mekong University. They have strengthened since last we met in the first match of our sucessful Hun Sen Cup campaign back in 2023. The University team also have a mature student in their ranks who goes by the name Suon Veasna. Now 31 years old he is still dancing down the wing and will be their most obvious threat. They lie bottom of the league with just 6 points, but have been on a little three match unbeaten run. We could go top with a win here. I go in with a 4-2-4 with Pidor and forgotten man, Tuy Oudom makes his first appearance of the season on the wing, to supply ammunition for Taboula and Nhem up front. Ratana is suspended and In Sambath is probably about to leave the club, so in comes young Ouk Vibol for a debut at the poisoned chalice of right back. Here goes.
Team: Som, Vibol,
Yaty. Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Men Samnang, Oudom, Nhem, Taboula, Pidor
Match Action
We attack and nearly score in the first minute. Vibol crosses in Taboula lays it off, Samnang Nhem hits a shot against the foot of the post. We are conceding too many set pieces and guess who is taking them.. Suon Veasna and we all know about his delivery. One wicked swerving corner reaches the back post where their defender has a free header which is hacked off the line. A warning. At the other end Taboula has an effort ruled out for offside. Oudom pulls a shot wide when he should have done better and Nhem forces a fine save from their keeper. It has all the hallmarks of another dodgy result against a bottom of the league side (Remember Prek Pra last season) Pidor gallops down the left and puts it on a plate for Nhem! Blocked on the line and cleared. This is an all too familiar story. 0-0 at the break. In the second half Pidor floats a free kick into the far post and YATY! Nods in Yess.. Noo!! Linesman had his flag up on the far side it won’t stand. I am incandescent with rage. Then the game gets bogged down. They are happy to pass the ball around without getting anywhere, time wasting and just being downright annoying. I change to a 4-3-3. Noron is on, Pheara just behind, Pidor in attacking midfield. Nhem crosses in for Noron!!! He sweeps home! Noo! Linesmans flag up on the far side, Noron’s big hairy toe is offside. No Goal F&&&! Off Its a goal you Play on.. WTF??? More frustration. A Pidor free kick is headed home by Chhim Pheara.. At last... Guess what.. The linesman has his flag up on the far side. Nen Borey has to restrain me, I want to confront him and punch his lights out. Four goals disallowed for offside. This is ridiculous! I kick the advertising hoardings in frustration. I get sent to the stands. I am beyond furious. The game ends 0-0... It’s results like this that decide seasons and careers. There were some dark forces at work today. The only consolation is we actually go top of the table, but by just one point instead of what should have been three. What an opportunity wasted.. again..
Final Score Mekong
Kampeuchea University 0-0 EDC
Transfer Window
Transfers In
Nhem Dara
During several scouting meetings, the name Nhem Dara kept coming up and after looking into it saw some potential in this young lad, so I have snapped him up from the National Defence. He then tore our defence apart in a recent meeting between the two sides and scored two goals, which prompted us into action.
Un Mony Udom
A young player who can play either in the left, or as a number 10 in a similar mould to Pidor.
Transfers Out
Pom Vannak joins Life University
My back up DMC, Pom Vannak has left the club to join the University of Life. He was surplus to requirements and there were other perhaps more talented plyers coming through in that position.
Um Makara joins National Police
I really didn’t see this one coming, but my regular DMC and DC, Um Makara has joined the National Police Force. I’d really earmarked him as a mainstay in my first XI, but he saw it differently.
Run Sokha to Samnang Aphivath
Run Sokha has been at EDC for some time now, but the central defender has never quite done enough to cement a place in the team on the odd occasion he has played. Second division outfit, Samnang Aphivath offered him a contract and I didn’t stand in his way.
Sok Oeun Pidor free transfer to National Police
Gutted! I am sick and tired of the Police sniffing round my squad and stealing my players... Take your recruitment drive elsewhere.....
In Sambath free transfer to Kang Reach Say
This one was more planned as I had allowed this versatile defender to look elsewhere. He’s ended up in the Second Division, which to be fair is probably about his level.
Soun Bath free transfer to University Life
I’m slightly disappointed that youth product, Soun Bath has decided to jump ship to University Life. At 19 he needs to be playing regular first team football and it is more likely he will do this at his new club than with us, so off he goes.
Match 13 EDC V
Khemera
It’s all change at EDC, as we have lost two players, Pidor and Soun Bath who would have been involved in today’s game. In their place come new signings, Nhem Dara and Un Mony Udom as we take on our bogey team. Gbayoro is suspended so young Panha replaces him in defence. Khemera have that other traitorous snake, Min Rattanak in their ranks, who apparently is “excited” about our little reunion at the Electricity Stadium.. I am less so. Maybe its because he will get to see Charlotte again in the stands? They lie down in 8th, while we are in second after being overtaken by the Tiger. As ever a must-win.
Team: Som, Ratana,
Yaty, Panha, Bairaing, Vavanak, Samnang, Mony Udom, Nhem, Dara, Taboula
Even Steven in the opening exchanges. We probe without creating anything clear cut, them pretty much the same. That is until Chea Noron picks up the ball in space and unleashes a 25 yard pile driver which whistles past Som and into the top corner. I bloody hate Khemera.. Then Samnang Nhem sprays the ball left to his mate, Taboula who skips past his man and curls a lovely shot which brings out the best of their keeper. Promising. We proceed to dominate, but that final pass or shot lets us down time and again. Ratana’s hopeful ball into the box is trapped by Taboula and fires instantly goalwards and thwacks the crossbar. That’s the closest we have come. Khemera doing what Khemera do best, frustrating us.. 1-0 to them at the break. We huff and we puff but Khemera stand firm. Then on 61 minutes the usual thing happens with this f****ing team, they break away and score. Mantnornin this time the one to rub our noses in it. I cannot wait for Khemera to be relegated one day. The bogey man has reared his ugly head once more... I demand more and sub, Men Samnang listens. He dispossesses their midfielder with a brilliant block tackle, before bursting forward, running at the heart of the Khemera defence. He lays it off to Taboula who fizzes the ball in at the near post.. 2-1, to register his 50th goal for the club. Khemera still look good for a third on the break. Ravann tests the strength of Som’s fingertips after one such counter attack. For our equaliser though we play them at their own game, breaking up their attack before launching forward, which results in sub Phera slotting home from the angle after Ratana’s hopeful ball over the top caused panic in the Khemera defence. Then a flipping miracle happens. We win a free kick at the edge of the box. Up steps the unlikely figure of Ouk Ratana, who fires it towards goal. The keeper cannot get a strong enough hand on it and the ball flies into the roof of the net 3-2. From 2-0 down! Nen Borey and I run onto the pitch and slide on our knees in jubilation, like Alex Ferguson and Brian Kidd against Sheffield Wednesday all those years ago.. A fantastic turnaround! We are now just one point off Angkor Tiger at the top of the table. Game On!
Final Score EDC
3-2 Khemera
Taboula 67, Pheara 82, Noron 14
Ratana 85 Matnornin 62
Simply put every game is a must win now to keep the pressure on Angkor Tiger at the top and hopefully make it a two horse race for the title. Lowly CMAC have always impressed me when we have played them in friendlies and have always been a close contest so we cannot take them too lightly. Anderson Gbayoro returns to the heart of the defence, while I have gone for experience up front, recalling Noron and Taboula.
Team: Som, Ratana,
Yaty, Gbayoro, Bairaing, Vavanak, Chea Samnang, Men Samnang, Dara, Noron,
Taboula
Match Action
We assert dominance and the unlikely source of Bairaing forces the first save of note from the keeper. CMAC are happy to frustrate us and Taboula is the victim of the offside flag on a few occasions. Vavanak plays a hopeful ball into the channel, which is booted out for a corner. Samnang drills the ball in near post where it is met by the flying head of Chan Yaty, which booms into the corner off the post 1-0. Half time. CMAC come out in the second half. We are giving them far too much space in midfield. Sophorn skewers a ball into the left channel where Japanese forward, Kawabata lumbers after it. He reaches it just before it crosses the byeline and manages to find a cross straight into the path of San Udom who pokes it home at the near post. I make two changes. The ineffectual Noron is replaced by forgotten man Chey Chitra, while Pheara adds an extra attacking option for Chea Samnang. Chitra has looked lively since he came on and his run down the left channel results in the ball squirting out for a corner. Men Samnang drifts the ball in. Gbayaro leaps highest and flicks the ball home off the upright 2-1 EDC! We batten down the hatches as CMAC search for an equaliser. They have a few efforts, but were mainly wide or comfortably saved by Som. At the other end, Nhem Dara and Chitra both wasted good chances to extend the lead. I was relieved when the final whistle went. We were far from our best today, but as a well known Scottish commentator once said.. “When your not playing well and you have to grrrrinnnndddd out a result, well that’s what EDC have done today Richard.”
Final Score- CMAC
United 1-2 EDC
Udom 53 Yaty 33, Gbayoro 67
My talented U21s Assistant Manager, Khim Veasna has accepted the offer of a job as manager of University Life in the Second Division. We wish him well.
International Call
Ups
Samnang Nhem, Chhim Pheara and Soun Bath have been called up to the Cambodian U19s squad for friendlies against Nepal and Oman U19s, while Ouk Ratana is my sole representative in the Senior Squad as they face Tajikistan in an Asia Cup Qualifying match and a friendly against Oman.
Board Confidence
I have been awarded a ‘B for my overall performance as manager of EDC.. It's like being back at school. They have nothing to criticise. We are one point off the top of the table. All seems well.. or is it???
A point off the top of the table, a good write up from the board, despite everything all seems back on track at EDC, but you never know what's around the corner... Find out next time on The Ultimate World FM Game!
Read Part 66 Sieve Like Defending Here!
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