Boeung Ket Angkor FC upset the odds with a 3-2 defeat of defending champions Becamex Binh Duong FC in the semi-final of the Toyota Mekong Club Championship 2015 on Sunday evening at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam. Star of the show was youngster Chan Vathanaka who bagged a superb hat trick to help his side to an unprecedented final against Buriram United later this month.

Becamex went ahead early in the game through towering forward Nsi Amougou, who beat Hong Pheng in the air and got his head to a pinpoint right wing cross into the box from Le Tan Tai. The ball left the head of the Cameroonian and sailed into the bottom right corner of the goal leaving Boeung Ket keeper Sou Yaty rooted to the spot. It was the first goal conceded by the Cambodian side in their 2015 TMCC campaign.

Moses Oloya dictated play as usual from the centre of the park for Becamex, as Boeung Ket’s midfield pairing of Yuya Wada and Chhun Sothearath were run ragged by the lanky Ugandan. Oloya should have put the hosts two goals up midway through the half, but his strike from distance was kept out by a strong hand from Yaty. Becamex continued to have the better of the chances as both Oloya and Nguyen Anh Duc spurned gilt edged opportunities to enhance their team’s lead.

Then, at the other end of the pitch, Gbenga Samuel and Esoh Omogba linked up beautifully leaving Becamex defender Dang Van Robert to bring down Omogba in the box for a stone wall penalty. Chan Vathanaka duly converted to help restore parity for the visitors who went into the half level with the defending champions.

After the break, Vathanaka added a superb second goal in the 54th minute beating Nguyen Xuan Liam and racing forty yards with the ball to slot the ball past the ‘keeper for the Cambodian side’s second goal. He then turned the screw as he struck the nail in the Becamex coffin with a fine left footed volley from Gbenga’s right wing cross, completing his hat trick and giving Boeung Ket Angkor a 3-1 lead.The Becamex frontline, with all the possession, had numerous chances to get back in the game, although efforts by Le Cong Vinh, Nsi and Anh Duc were all turned away by the ever-impressive Yaty in the Boeung Ket goal.

There remained time for Anh Duc to ensure an enthralling finish as he converted an 89th minute penalty to bring the score to 2-3, after Wada brought the forward down just inside the box. Ultimately, it was not enough as Becamex went out, thanks to a very impressive performance from Prak Sovannara’s Boeung Ket Angkor FC side. Sou Yaty, speaking after the game, was adamant he was not worried as the pressure increased from the Becamex attack late in the game. “We drilled our tactics well and we knew the job we had to do” said the 23-year old. “I’m happy to be a part of it” the goalkeeper added. “We followed our game plan and thanks to individual brilliance form Yaty and Vathanaka, it was a great performance throughout” said winning Coach Sovannara after the game. “Now we can look forward to Thailand and Buriram” he added. Boeung Ket will now head to Supachalasai Stadium on December 20 where they will face Thai Premier League and Toyota League Cup champions Buriram United FC.

Boeung Ket Angkor