Campbell's boys sink Rithysen

Chhlam Samuth's livewire hat-trick hero Olabode Abosede

New head coach Jimmy Campbell will be pleased with his team's result though it was touch and go at times before Chhlam Samuth finally put paid to plucky Rithysen in the first of the afternoon's Metfone C-League matches. Two first-half goals from livewire midfield ace Olabode Abosede separated the sides for most of the half until Rithysen's Etim Esin reduced the arrears just three minutes before the break. Abosede netted his first on 25 minutes, eventually sticking the ball in the net after initially firing at the goalkeeper and then against the crossbar. His 2nd, on 37 minutes, was an easier affair, finding himself in space from Kao Viso's pass and calmly finishing whilst Rithysen were down to ten men through injury. Rithysen's Keo Dara was looking sprightly and his mis-hit shot fell to Etim Esin, who rounded the keeper and pulled the trigger to get the bottom-club back into the match. Five minutes after the break, Rithysen's bulky defender Zidougha Paris got away with a yellow card for pulling his opponent back when a red card was warranted. Though it was only a matter of time and on 67 minutes, his late tackle, again on half-time substitute Sunday Ayodele, earned him a 2nd yellow and a red card. On 72 minutes Chhlam Samuth's Abosede marked his first C-League hat-trick with a stunning volley from fifteen yards out, meeting a Dauda Sanni pass with a perfect strike. However, Rithysen refused to lie down and four minutes later Keo Dara raced clear and finished with confidence to give his side hope, despite their numerical disadvantage. Chhlam Samuth's mid-season signing from Kirivong, Sunday Ayodele then took the game by the scruff of the neck with two goals in the last six minutes to put the result beyond doubt. On 84 minutes his lob over Rithysen keeper Oum Veasna was helped over the line by a defender and in the 1st minute of stoppage time, he nodded home from a yard out, after missing a similar chance moments before. 5-2 in Chhlam Samuth's favour and a victory that would see them leapfrog over Prek Pra and out of the relegation placings.

Chhlam Samuth, on their knees praying for a win, which they got

Rithysen, down to 10 men, went down 5-2 to Chhlam Samuth