Galvanised by an early goal from star striker Khun Laboravy, last year’s runners-up Boeung Ket Rubber Field went on to beat Western University 2-0 in a Metfone C-League tie at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

The centre of this season’s most talked about transfer from defending champions Svay Rieng to Boeung Ket, Laboravy has already proved his worth for his new employers and the 10th minute strike was yet another example of his

uncanny ability to put the ball in the back of the net when the opportunity presents itself.

The icing on the cake for Boeung Ket was provided by the nippy Chan Vathanaka in the 80th minute when he scythed through the Western defence to cap a brilliant solo run.

Just before this master stroke, Western’s David Njoku had missed out on a glorious chance to put himself on the score sheet. From the edge of the six-yard box, his header was way over the crossbar when he had an empty goal in front of him. There wasn’t a chance as good as that before or after.

After two unexpected defeats, Boeung Ket have struck winning form and are clustered at the top with two of their arch rivals Naga Corp and Phnom Penh Crown, both of whom came up with winning performances over the weekend.

At the Old Stadium on Saturday, Sun Sovanarithy converted a penalty in the 69th minute as Naga put paid to TriAsia’s pretensions 1-0.

Until Naga stumbled upon that horror of a defensive lapse on the part of TriAsia, it was the new entrants to the top tier who seemingly enjoyed greater possession and space in the game. But as was the case in a previous narrow loss to Svay Rieng, TriAsia simply could not make their creativity in attack translate into goals on the score sheet.

In a hard fought encounter, Ministry of National Defence and visitors from Takeo, Kirivong Sok Sen Chey, were locked goalless.

Former champions Crown consolidated their position at the top of the table with a 4-1 win over bottom of the table Albirex Niigata at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Just past the half-an-hour mark, Crown had a commanding 4-0 lead. Though they drew a blank in the second half, there was not even the slightest prospect of Albirex getting any closer than the one consolation goal they managed in the 74th minute through hardworking midfielder Michimori Kataoka. Kim Borey gave Crown a ninth minute lead which was doubled in the 16th by Bin Chantha Thierry. The next two goals through Newton Ben Katanha and Kim Jeongho came within three minutes of each other as Crown headed in to the half time break with that four-goal cushion.

In a late evening fixture, Asia Europe University withstood a strong second half push back by Build Bright University, lasting out a frenzied finish to win 3-2.

In a matter of eight minutes, AEU stormed into a 3-0 lead beginning with Mohammed Hamza’s 23rd-minute strike. Chang Hay and George Kelechi quickly got onto the score sheet to leave BBU in a state of desperation. In a remarkable fightback, Adeyanju Omokafe reduced the margin in the 56th minute and Chan Chhaya scored in the 64th minute to breathe new life into BBU, only to see AEU hold on to their slender advantage.