Cambodia (5) v (4) Sierra Leone
Cambodia pipped Sierra Leone in a tight match on the Yarra pitch on the opening day of competition.
Cambodia (5) v (4) Sierra Leone
By Eleni Psaltis
CAMBODIA pipped Sierra Leone in a tight match on the Yarra pitch on the opening day of competition.
The Asian side – in red – trailed 2-1 at half time but stormed back with three straight goals in the second half and held on for a 5-4 win.
Cambodia had a reserve assisting their side – Australian Tim Butler – who scored a hat-trick, including the opening goal. Under Homeless World Cup rules, if a team is missing players, they can call on a reserve from the host nation reserve team – consisting of 10 players including two goalkeepers.
Sierra Leone equalised with a swift counter-attack, capped by a penalty to Abdul Karim Koroma.
It was a slow-paced match early on as the players tried to find their bearings.
Sierra Leone found their feet first with Ahmed Juhea Barrie scoring their second.
Spectators with Cambodian flags watched intensely as their team took several failed shots at goal. And the ball was stripped from the frustrated side, with Koroma scoring yet again.
Both teams appeared more settled and relaxed in the second half.
Cambodia's goalkeeper saved two consecutive shots – proving his ability to focus and quickly recover from rebound shots.
Cambodia's Butler equalised and then within seconds scored another. With Cambodia leading for the first time, they became more creative and daring down the centre with Nhanh Vannak scoring their fourth.
Sierra Leone's Barrie tried to get his team back into gear, scoring a third goal.
But Cambodia was determined to maintain their lead, scoring a decisive fifth with a penalty.
Sierra Leone tried hard to close the gap – scoring a fourth – but ran out of time as the final whistle blew.
Photo Michael Currie / Photoworx