Bayon Challenge 2009

The strong Apsara Dancers, another team put forward by the hosts, started off against Independent F.C. The Dancers were all over the Independents, but were unlucky as Chhay's chance ended on the post, while a Baba chance was headed off the line. But in the very last second of the match, it was Alex who brought the three points to Apsara Dancers.

The Dancers' next match was against Royal Bassac. From the first minute the Apsara Dancers were all over the field and within this minute it was Chhay who finished neatly for a 1-0 lead. Apsara dominated the game completely and had 90% ball possession, though was not able to convert the chances into goals or the opportunities into chances. The same was shown in the second half with Apsara closing down any initiative from the Bassac players. However, a couple minutes before the final whistle the Apsara defense was not able to clear the ball properly in midfield and a counter attack followed with another mistake in the Apsara defense resulting in the equaliser by the captain of the Bassac team, 1-1. How much the Apsara players pressed for the winning goal in the last couple of minutes, it was all in vain. The score did not change.

Another known entity were the next opponent Acleda. The starting line-up was changed slightly, though the same play was shown with Apsara pressing the Acleda players with their backs to their own goal. Chances were created, though the Apsara forwards missed them all. The dominance of the Apsara team was so high during the first three matches, that Laurent, the goalie, only had five times the ball over these matches, from which two were a pass back and one resulting in the goal of the Bassac team. The final score was 0-0 and it looked like that the Apsara Dancers were not able to win a match.

The second day started the same as it ended the first day for the Apsara Dancers. It is a little boring, though Apsara again dominated the game against Bon Café from the first till the last minute. However, the forwards did not meet up to the expectations and the match finished in a disappointing 0-0 score. Both teams were now depending on the results of the other teams to see them through to the semi-finals.

A victory agaianst the top of the group Hanoi Drink Team with minimum three goals was required by the Apsara Dancers if they wanted to have a chance to make it to the semi-finals. Even then it was waiting for the results of the other games. However, the Apsara Dancers never looked like to score three goals, though they dominated again the match. It was only when Bo was sent off with a yellow card, that Hanoi Drink team could play more on the half of the Apsara team. The score finished as it started, 0-0, giving the Hanoi Drink team their desired semi-final spot, while the Apsara Dancers got the disappointing third place in Group B

The 5th place play-off saw all the substitutes of the Apsara Dancers playing against the Saigon Saints Minsk Search and Destroy. The dominance of the Apsara team was not that huge as in previous matches, though the Apsara defense was able to neutralise the Saints attackers in a satisfying way, preventing them to score. It was a balanced game and the Apsara team managed to get the balance going their side when Baba finally found the net when he headed a cross from John into the nets for a 1-0 score. The second half Phyrun came in as a centre forward, as he tried to show the Apsara attackers how to score. A fluent attack initiated by Phyrun himself, brought Phyrun in an eye-to-eye situation with the Saints goalie, though he only managed to hit the cross-bar. (from 2 m. out!) It is not that easy to score!! Final result was 1-0 for the Apsara Dancers.

Having the best players in a team does not mean that it will be the best team. The Apsara Dancers with their surplus of technical and physical skills dominated all their matches for 80% of the time with sometimes really good football, though they were not able to win the matches. If you don’t score, you don’t win games.