Football

National Police Commissary and Naga Corp consolidated their first and second placings respectively in the Metfone C-League with wins yesterday at Olympic Stadium.

National Police had the tougher test by far in trying to contain Hun Sen Cup champions Preah Khan Reach, but managed to wrestle out on top of a 3-2 thriller.

Naga, meanwhile, had the relatively easy task of dealing with league debutants Western University.

The two-time league winners showed their inexperienced opposition no mercy, running out a competent 4-1 victory. 

Crown crush BBU, Army draw again

In Saturday’s matches at Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh Crown continued their resurgence with a 3-0 blitz of Build Bright United, while Boeung Ket Rubber Field held National Defence Ministry to a 1-1 draw.

The early kickoff between league newcomers Boeung Ket and the Army side showed much early promise, with NDM’s Chhin Chhoeun opening the scoring after just four minutes.

Boeung Ket quickly drew things  level six minutes later with a goal from Nwakuna Friday.  

Parity was to remain to the end of the match, despite Boeung Ket players beginning to lose their heads in the closing stages.

Substitute midfielder Phoeun Saorum picked up two rapid-fire yellows to be given his marching orders before defender Touch Sokheng followed suit with a bizarre double booking in stoppage time to see the Kampong Cham outfit finish with nine men.

It was the Army’s fourth tie in five matches this season.

In the evening game, Crown ran out comfortable winners over BBU.

Impressive new Ghanaian signing Emmanuel Frimpong was at hand to blast in a long-range effort for the game’s opener on 32 minutes and his fifth of the campaign so far.

Home-grown stars Kim Borey and Kouch Sokumpheak then put the result beyond doubt in quick succession in the second half.

Crown leapfrogged Boeung Ket into third in the standings, while BBU stayed mired in the relegation zone, ahead of bottom-placed Chhlam Samuth only by better goal difference.

Reigning Metfone C-League champions Phnom Penh Crown, who have one eye on next weekend’s participation in the 2012 AFC President’s Cup group stage at home, suffered another dent to their title defence by losing 3-1 to Kirivong Sok Sen Chey yesterday at Olympic Stadium.

Egyptian signing Mohammed Zaki settled the nerves of his Takeo-based club with a fourth-minute opener.

Team-mate Em Phanna then bolstered his side’s advantage on 80 minutes with the 100th league goal of the 2012 Metfone C-League campaign.

Em Phanna put the game beyond doubt with his team’s third in the fourth minute of stoppage time, although Crown sneaked one back a minute later via an Ouk Sothy header.

In yesterday’s late kickoff, Hun Sen Cup holders Preah Khan Reach were forced to fight back from two goals down to grab a 2-2 draw against league newcomers Boeung Ket Rubber Field.

The Kampong Cham outfit took the initiative with a brace from Nigerian recruit Nwakuna Friday in as many minutes.

His first, a header on 33 minutes, was rapidly doubled to put Boeung Ket firmly in the driving seat.

However, the Military Police-backed club were not to be outdone, and launched a comeback through the ever-reliable boot of Khuon Laboravy on 71 minutes.

A Prak Mony Odom strike a short while later set up an exciting finish, although neither side managed to eke out a winner to finish with points shared.

Naga rampage, BBU edge Army

On Saturday, Naga Corp blasted themselves to the top of the standing thanks to a 8-1 thrashing of Chhlam Samuth, while Build Bright United bounced off the bottom by inflicting a first defeat of the season on National Defence Ministry.

BBU had frontman Pich Sena to thank as saviour with his 85-minute strike proving decisive in their tepid 1-0 victory over the Army team.

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it encounter later between two-time league champions Naga and floundering Navy-affiliated Sea Sharks, the result seemed a foregone conclusion just 10 minutes in.

Om Thavarak got the ball rolling with a goal after three minutes, with Naga’s Kenneth Nwafor doubling their lead moments later.

Choun Chum then grabbed his first of four via the penalty spot on 10 minutes.

A treble of goals in the second half confirmed Choun Chum as the early frontrunner for the season’s golden boot award with a haul of 11 from seven games so far.

Strikes by Sun Sovanrithy and Teab Vathanak either side of the break meant Naga were never out of their comfort zone, although an 81-minute goal by Chhlam Samuth’s Ros Somoeurn offered scant consolation to the team now cemented to the foot of the table.

Metfone C-League champions Phnom Penh Crown have their work cut out for them in the first round of the 2012 RHB Singapore Cup after being drawn against reigning S.League champions Tampines Rovers on Saturday.

Crown are making their sixth appearance at the annual competition hosted by the Lion City, which is slated to get under way on May 14.

Of the 16 sides pitched into the first round, four are visiting from abroad, including Loyola Meralco Sparks of the Philippines, Myanmar club KBZ FC and Yotha FC of Laos.

Group A