The C-League is back with a bang, with poor Electricite du Cambodge (EDC) being hammered 4-0 by Asia Euro United at home. The scoreline far from tells the whole story though with EDC not only putting up a spirited display, but also missing two penalties.
You can check out he Khmer Nights July fixture list here.
Before delving into the match, some context should be given too. The C-Legaue is very much split, like most competitions into clubs that have money and clubs that don’t. Clubs with money, such as Asia Euro United get to have lots of foreign marque players (all their goals were scored by foreign players), whereas EDC do not. The club technically represent the Electricity Board of Cambodia, have no foreign players and are mostly made up of talented young Khmer players, this makes them relative minnows in the competition. A standard EDC season is a fight against relegation to the C-League 2, with this season currently not looking any different.
Where do Electricite du Cambodge play?
They play at the EDC Stadium, which is literally located inside a power-plant, but they have one stand, changing rooms and a lady selling street food out the front, not the most deluxe of Cambodian football stadiums, but has a cozy atmosphere.
First Half – Electricite du Cambodge 0 Asia Euro United FC 3
Both teams came out fighting, with neither side looking like they had not played for a month. Initially it looked like the game could go either, that was at least until Cameroonian forward Abbee Ndjoo thundered past the EDC defense to drive home the first of his three goals in the 5th minute. Despite being down 1, EDC continued fighting and were unlucky not to pull one back on a number of occasions, but it was Asia Euro United who were to prove more clinical in front of goal. On the stroke of 20 minutes and after a powerful run veteran Nigerian Samuel Ajayi struck home to put the visitors two goals ahead, followed by Abbee Ndjoon netting his second of the match to make it 3-0 heading into half-time.
Second Half – Electricite du Cambodge 0 Asia Euro United FC 4
Running into the second half what looked like would turn into a rout ended up anything but with hard work of EDC being rewarded with a 49th minute penalty. Captain Chhoeung Visnu stepped up and duly sent the ball over the crossbar, this was really not to be EDC’s day, but they were still not giving up. On the 55th minute EDC were awarded a second penalty after an infraction in the box, with Number 11 Sean Sopheaktra stepping up only to see his shot well saved by Nin Seyha of Asia Euro United FC. EDC carried in fighting, but the game was ended in the 73rd minute when Abbee Ndjoo completed his hat-trick.
What does it mean?
Asia Euro United sit in 8th place with 2 wins from 5. I have seen both their winning games and they certainly look like wrong contenders if they can fix their form.
EDC sit in 11th place with 1 win from 5 and seem to be destined for a relegation battle.
Other weekend results
Visakha FC 2 Nagaworld FC 2
Visakha FC , who at the start of the season had been tipped as one of the title favorites continued their mixed form with a 2-2 draw with Nagaworld, leading until a 70th minute equalizer from the visitors.
Prey Veng 1 Boeung Ket FC 3
Newly promoted Prey Veng confirmed their status as one of the favorites for relegation with a home defeat against a strong Boeung Ket FC side.
Soltilo Angkor FC v Police Commisionary FC
Sadly one of the players tested positive for Covid-19, so this game had to be postponed – you can read more about that here (link to Khmer Nights).
Overall though a great restart to the season, and all in the midst of maybe England becoming champions of Europe, not a bad time to be watching football in Cambodia.
