Prek Pra, BBU glide into quarterfinals

BBU’s Tuy Sam slides in a challenge on Rithy Sen’s Ouk Channarith during their last 16 Samdech Hun Sen Cup match. Photo by: Sreng Meng Srun

via CAAI

Monday, 24 January 2011 15:00 H S Manjunath

Prek Pra Keila attracted their usual load of faithful fans to the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, and they weren’t to be disappointed as their side handed out a 5-1 drubbing to Battambang in the last 16 knockout round of the 2011 Samdech Hun Sen Cup.

The provincial side went behind as early as the third minute, when central defender Ha Rithy’s panic reaction in a goal-mouth melee saw his clearance nestle in his own net. From that point on, Battambang were forced to chase shadows as a youthful Prek Pra took advantage of a creaky defence. Yu Arafat and Zen Pukry gifted the Metfone C-League side a 3-0 advantage at half time.

The ever reliable Mat Hasan then knocked in a fourth before Sos Sohana put the game beyond doubt.

Battambang’s attempts were few and far between, but a random infraction near the edge of the box brought them a penalty. Um Tola was spot on with the kick, scant consolation for a side that was forced to play second fiddle throughout the contest.

BBU too good for Rithy SenNewly promoted Rithy Sen had a foretaste of how tough life will be in the Metfone C-League this year, after Build Bright United bounced back to post a 6-1 victory in Saturday’s second match.

Surprisingly, the team from Kampong Chhnang came out marginally better in early trading. Rithy Sen winger Set Kamel worked his way to the box and polished off the move with a neat twist and tuck, leaving national team goalkeeper Hem Simay dumbfounded.

However, euphoria and energy gradually drained out of the travelling side as BBU hitback through a Prom Puthsethy hat-trick, his personal best in the competition.

Meanwhile, aging maestro Nuth Sinoun showed that he still has some spark left by hammering home a brace.

Sophat Chansokunthyna struck late on to extend the scoreline to six and complete BBU’s total domination of the second half.

“We did not play well in the first half, we were quite slow,” said BBU coach Meas Sam Oeurn after the final whistle. “But we made it up in the second half. The Rithy Sen goalkeeper did a wonderful job by saving many of our good attempts.”