Crown aim to cut Glass in Singapore Cup

Photo by: FFC / TEP PHANY
The Phnom Penh Crown squad and officials line up for a photo before embarking on their flight to Singapore at Phnom Penh Airport Monday.

The Phnom Penh Post
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
KEN GADAFFI

PHNOM Penh Crown, the most successful Cambodian football team of recent years, entertain Bangkok Glass from Thailand in the Singapore Cup quarterfinals first leg today at Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore. The team who departed for Singapore Monday with an entourage of 18 players and 6 officials will stay in the city-state for the second leg a week later.

Led by their gregarious manager Makara Be, the Cambodian outfit will be looking to progress beyond the quarterfinals for the first time in three appearances in the regional competition. They will hope their trio of African imports, Tunji Ayoyinka, Oscar Mpoko and Mohamadou Ousmanou, as well as local stars such as Chan Rithy, Keo Sokngorn and Phuong Narong, can help overcome their Thai opponents.

Bangkok Glass presently occupy third in the Thai Premier League and feature the talents of Ivory Coast's Kassim Kone, Nigerian-born Samuel Ajayi (a former Phnom Penh Crown player), and Thai international Nantawat Thaensopa.

Crown's 3-1 victory over Build Bright United on Saturday will help boost their confidence, whereas Bangkok Glass were only able to secure a 2-2 away draw at Pattaya United FC in the Thai Premier League.

In the previous round of the Singapore Cup, Crown spanked Young Lions - the U23 Singapore national team - 3-0 on aggregate, while Bangkok Glass ran over Woodlands United 2-0. Whichever team triumphs over the two quarterfinal legs will book themselves a date with the winner of the quarterfinal matchup of TTM Samuth Sakhon of Thailand and Brunei DPMM of Brunei.

The Singapore Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, November 8.

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SINGAPORE CUP FIXTURES

All games are played in Singapore
Quarterfinals - First Leg

Wednesday August 26

Phnom Penh Crown v Bangkok Glass 6.45pm - Jalan Besar Stadium
Friday August 28

Brunei DPMM v TTM Samut Sakhon 6.30pm - Jalan Besar Stadium
Sunday August 30

Geylang United v Home United 6.45pm - Bedok Stadium
Tuesday September 1

Tampines Rovers v Albirex Niigata 6.45pm - Tampines Stadium Quarterfinals - Second Leg
Monday August 31

TTM Samut Sakhon v Brunei DPMM 6.45pm - Jurong West Stadium
Wednesday September 2

Bangkok Glass v Phnom Penh Crown 6.45pm - Jalan Besar Stadium
Thursday September 3

Home United v Geylang United 6.45pm - Clementi Stadium
Friday September 4

Albirex Niigata v Tampines Rovers 6.30pm - Jurong East Stadium