• Society

CPL1 Week 2 Review: Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng Soars as Boueng Ket, Visakha Fall

• By Ken Gadaffi
• March 14, 2022 5:34 PM

PHNOM PENH--The Cambodia Premier League (CPL) entered the second week with all four games played on March 12, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng maintained their winning streak, while Boeung Ket FC and Visakha fall with slim defeats.

Angkor Tiger and Kirivong Sok Sen Chey shared the spoils. Meanwhile, reigning champions Phnom Penh Crown are yet to find their rhythm.

Phnom Penh Crown 1-3 Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC

Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng continues their dominance in the 2022 CPL 1 with an emphatic 3-1 victory over 2021 champions Phnom Penh Crown at the Smart RSN Stadium on Saturday Night.

The Champions are yet to find their feet in the CPL1 following their earlier Trump in the Cambodia Super Cup a fortnight ago as they have held to a goalless draw away to Tiffy Army in Week one fixture. Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng Struck early five minutes into the game when Long Phearath found the back of the net to put the visitors ahead. 

Six minutes later, Fareed Sadat leveled the scores. It was his third goal for Crown since he joined them at the start of the season, but that was all the host could muster as Preah Khan Reach ran riot before the end of the first half. Sareth Kriya put the visitors in front in the 27th minute, and Kim Sokyuth took the game beyond Crown with a fine finish in the 33rd minute.

The second half was a drab end-to-end with both sides slightly posing any threat as Preah Khan Reach saw out the tie to extend their lead on top of the table to six points from two games.

 Boeung Ket 0-1 Tiffy Army

 Boeung Ket FC was shocked at their Cambodia Airways stadium by visiting Tiffy Army side. The 4-time Cambodian Champions defeated NagaWorld in the opening fixtures in week one and were looking to consolidate their stay on top of the table only to fire blanks against Tiffy army who played a 0-0 draw in week one. Both sides went into the break at par only for a Japanese import, Yuta Kikuchi to fire home in the 55th minute to give the Army boys the lead. Boeung Ket fought hard to come back, but the visitors held sway and saw out the tie to earn the valuable 3 points.

 Visakha 0-1 NagaWorld Prince Stadium

Over at the Prince stadium, Visakha FC fell 1-0 to Visiting Nagaworld. Going into this tie, Visakha was joint top of the table with three points following their 3-1 away victory over Angkor Tigers in week one and were looking to cage NagaWorld at their very backyard only to be shocked by the Hotel backed side. Roque Silveira Dos Santos Christian's lone strike in the 67th minute was enough to earn NagaWorld all three points and send them off to the bottom of the table. NagaWorld lost 3-1 to Boeung Ket FC in week one, and both were visibly relieved after the final whistle with the victory.

Angkor Tiger 3-3 Kirivong Sok Sen Chey

Over at Hanuman Stadium in Siem Reap, it was a six-goal thriller as Angkor tiger and Kirivong Soksenchey played out a 3-3 Draw.

Both sides were pointless after week one and the home side Angkor Tiger drew the first blood in the 30th minute through Keaveny Josefphelim. Sovan Dauna doubled the lead in the 38th minute.

Undaunted, Kirivong fought back and leveled the scores before the break with Im Somoun's brace in the 43rd and 47th minute.

After the interval, Kirivong stepped forward and put their nose in front for the first time in the tie when Robert Ghanasah fired home in the 75th minute.

The visitors were looking to have won the tie and three points in the bag for Bento Fernandes to equalize for Angkor Tigers with barely 6 minutes left on the clock. Both sides looked for the winner to no avail as they settled for a share of the spoils.