The Phnom Penh Post

Naga fail in three-mendous AFC Cup bid

- HS Manjunath

NAGAWORLD’S desperate search for a big win over Erchim FC ended in defeat at the hands of the Mongolian champions, who scored the only goal of their Group B final game in the 2017 AFC Cup qualifiers deep into stoppage time at the Ulanbaatar Stadium.

Needing victory against the local giants by a three-goal margin to overhaul group leaders Three Star Club of Nepal, Naga threw everything at their rivals to no avail.

A strong Mongolian backline and their sharp counteratt­acks often pinned Naga down, yet the Casino-backed outfit were left to rue a plethora of missed chances, the most prominent being a free-kick that struck the upright by Khim Borey late in the game.

Erchim’s match winner came just when the contest seemed destined for a goalless draw, and was greeted with joy by Three Star Club, who can now look forward to the January 24 and 31 playoffs on the strength of being the Group B toppers with four points.

While Erchim, beaten 2-0 by Three Star in the opening fixture, finished second with three points, Naga ended up at the bottom of the three-team group with just one point from their 1-1 draw with Three Star.

Meanwhile, two Prak Mony Odom free-kicks helped home side Preah Khan Reach to a 3-2 win over defending champions Phnom Penh Crown at the Sv a y Ri e ng St a d i um o n Wednesday evening.

While Svay Rieng have a game remaining, six-time champions Crown finished their league season with 28 points from eight wins, four draws and five defeats to find themselves mid-table.

Having won a major battle on the legal front at the Court of Arbitratio­n for Sport in getting their ban from the AFC Cup continenta­l competitio­n overturned, Crown were determined to sign off the campaign on a bright note, and they managed to cause an early stir before the home side grabbed the upper hand in the 10th minute.

Ha rdwork i ng Hoy Pha l i n had room and sped inside the box, d r iv i ng t he ba l l pa st Crown keeper Keo Soksela for t he f i r st goa l i n what was turning into an entertaini­ng af fa ir.

South Korean Kim Hyeonwoo shot wide from close range after getting a clever pass from Keo Sokpheng, adding to his dismay after seeing a goal minutes earlier ruled out for offside.

As the clock ticked to the halfhour mark, a curling free-kick from Odom into the top corner saw the home side take a firm hold on the first session.

After missing a couple of promising attempts, Crown hit back in the 67th minute when Sokpheng polished off a defence-splitting run from South Korean midfielder Jan In-yong.

After Jang’s header off a Bin Thierry free-kick had been spectacula­rly saved by the Svay Rieng keeper, Odom produced another stunning free-kick to stretch the lead to 3-1.

Deep into stoppage time, Kok Boris capped a strong run with an accurate long-range shot, but by then the game was over for the defending champs.

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