Crown’s Kingsley Metu (l) bundles in a goal past Western Univerity’s inverted Nouy Bora Moch yesterday. Photograph: Sreng Meng Srun/Phnom Penh Post

National Police Commissary were held to a 1-1 draw by Boeung Ket Rubber Field in their Metfone C-League fixture at Olympic Stadium yesterday, giving the top half of the standings a bit of a shake-up.

The result allowed Preah Khan Reach to sneak to the top of the leader board with 25 points, ahead of the Police, who are clear second on 24 points and one ahead of Naga Corp.

Naga were top going into the weekend, but can reclaim their lead if they beat Build Bright United on July 11.

Boeung Ket’s tally nudged up to 18 points, and they remain slotted in fourth, occupying the last spot in the Super 4 playoffs.

But reigning champions Phnom Penh Crown are snapping at their heels, two points adrift in fifth place following their 5-0 demolition job on bottom-enders Western University yesterday.

Crown were three goals up within half an hour through Kingsley Metu, Khim Borey and Tieng Tiny.

On 65 minutes, Hong Pheng made it 4-0, while Sos Souhana sneaked in a fifth three minutes before time to make it five scorers on the night.

In the earlier kickoff yesterday, the Police, who had beaten Boeung Ket 2-1 in the first round, stole a march in the 41st minute when Oladiji Olatunde found the net.

The exchanges were even yet highly combative, and the Police managed to cling to their slender advantage until a Boeung Ket counter-thrust changed the equation.

Hitman Degule Momoh caught the Police backline by surprise to fire the goal that mattered most for his side.

PKR survive Sea Sharks

On Saturday, a late goal by defender Nen Sothearath saved the blushes for Hun Sen Cup holders Preah Khan Reach and helped them grab all three points against lowly Chhlam Samut.

It was an uphill struggle for Military Police-backed PKR to turn their assets into goals.

Neither their pace, nor the huge advantage in space and possession, cut any ice with the Sea Sharks, who dourly defended their territory in the first half.

But the desperate breakthrough PKR were looking for came in the 72nd minute when Nen Sothearath made good on the chance that came his way.

The Sea Sharks continue to languish in the rear, with Western University for company in the drop zone.

In Saturday’s other match, a brilliant second-half rally saw Kirivong Sok Sen Chey turn a one-goal deficit against Ministry of National Defence (MND) into a 3-1 victory.

The Army men latched on to Meak Chordaravuth’s 28th-minute strike well into the second half before Kirivong Sok Sen Chey produced a stunning rearguard action.

It was Mohammed Zaki who netted the equaliser in the 71st minute for the visitors.

MND crumbled again a minute before regulation time when Ek Sopheap got the go-ahead goal for Kirivong.

The midfielder quickly rubbed salt in the wound by completing his double in injury time.

To contact the reporter on this story: H S Manjunath at [email protected]