Cup foes face off again in league matches

Saturday, 07 May 2011

Ung Chamroeun

Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun

Preah Khan Reach striker Khounla Boravy rounds Naga Corp keeper Mak Theara to score during their 2011 Samdech Hun Sen Cup semifinal on March 5. PKR and Naga face off in the league on Sunday.

Weekend action from the Metfone C-League features some familiar fixtures, with three out of four matches being reruns of 2011 Samdech Hun Sen Cup encounters.
Phnom Penh Crown v Chhlam Samuth
Saturday May 7 – 2pm
Chhlam Samuth will need to bring their A-game tomorrow if they want to stand a chance of emerging with anything from their game against reigning league champions Crown,  who beat them comprehensively 5-1 in the recent domestic Cup tournament.

Sea Sharks midfielder Ek Sovannara faces his former team for second time.

Meanwhile, Crown will hope to improve on their pedestrian attacking performance during a 1-0 win over Prek Pra Keila, with frontmen Kingsley Njoku, Kouch Sokumpheak and Chan Chaya all primed for an assault on goal.

Rithy Sen v Kirivong Sok Sen Chey
Saturday May 7 – 4pm
Tomorrow’s late kickoff sees a clash of provincial sides, with Kirivong keen to avenge a 4-2 defeat by Rithy Sen during the last 16 round of the 2010 Hun Sen Cup. Peh Mathsaum, Ouk Channrith, and Keo Dara were on the scoresheet that day for the Kampong Chhnang side against their Takeo based rivals, and should feature prominently again.

Kirivong, however, are tipped to finish in the top half this season with Nigerian striker Nelson Oladiji set to thrive on ample supply from In Vichheka, Sok Va, and Meak Chhoravuth.

National Police Commissary v National Defence Ministry
Sunday May 8 – 2pm
The two sides met at the group stage of this year’s Hun Sen Cup in Prey Veng, with the Army edging the Police 3-1 before both teams went on to be knocked out in the last 16. MND defender Thong Oudom and midfielder Ke Vannak will look to add to their goals against the Police from the Cup campaign, while teammate Chhin Chhoeun has shown promising form.

Police, which have key midfielder Ngoun Chansothea and defender Ieng Tin suspended, will heap their hopes on Long Nasy, Sophal Oudom and Samuth Dalin to prove the difference.

Preah Khan Reach v Naga Corp
Sunday May 8 – 4pm
On the way to lifting the Hun Sen Cup this year, PKR blitzed past Naga 4-0 in the semifinals. Tournament Golden Boot winner Khoun Laboravy, who netted twice in the semi, will be the main target man and look to continue his remarkable run of ten competitive games without failing to score.

Naga, lead by Cambodia’s only A-Licenced coach Prak Sovannara, are looking to recover from an early slump with back-to-back victory following their 3-1 defeat of MND last weekend.

New Nigerian signings Julius Oiboh and Omogba Esoh have made impressive introductions and should star in the late game on Sunday.