Kirivong Sok Sen Chey captain In Vichheka (l) is given a straight red for a professional foul on National Police’s Srey Odom (number 7) during yesterday’s game. Photograph: Sreng Meng Srun/Phnom Penh Post

National Police Commissary regained top spot in the Metfone C-League yesterday thanks to a 2-0 victory over Kirivong Sok Sen Chey.

Meanwhile, top tier debutants Boeung Ket Rubber Field gave the Olympic Stadium crowd their money’s worth with a 7-0 demolition job of Chhlam Samut.

The Police team’s Srey Odom got the ball rolling with a goal after 26 minutes.

Kirivong then made their comeback less likely by having captain In Vichheka sent off for a clumsy last man challenge on Srey Odom moments before half time.

The Takeo-based club managed to hold off their high flying opponents for the majority of the second session, but saw their former striker Nelson Oladiji put the result beyond doubt with an 88th minute goal.

Police will enter the half term break on 22 points, two clear of second placed Naga Corp.

Earlier yesterday, Boeung Ket’s Nwakuna Friday blasted four of his team’s seven past the disheveled Sea Sharks to move to joint top of the scoring charts on 11 with Nelson Oladiji and Naga’s Choun Chum.

Friday’s awesome foursome in the space of twenty minutes surrounding the interval were buoyed by a goal for Keo Sokngorn and a brace for his younger brother Keo Sok Pheng.

With the win, Boeung Ket move into Super 4 playoff contention while Chhlam Samut wallow at the foot of the table on 3 points.

Army shoot themselves in foot

Title chasing Preah Khan Reach staged a late rally to down Ministry of National Defence 2-1 in their Metfone C-League tie at Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

The Army men shot themselves in the foot, conceding an own goal through Keo Vannak two minutes into injury time when a 1-1 draw had looked a near certainty.

The Hun Sen Cup winners were frustrated no end during the first half as the Army outfit kept fighting on a level pegging. Well past the hour mark, MND found succour in Phoung Soksana, who produced the game’s first goal in the 75th minute.

It took PKR some intense probing to find the equaliser through Lay Raksmey in the 84th minute.

As the sides were getting close to splitting the points, up came that Army blunder.

In the earlier kickoff on Saturday, Build Bright United pulled off a 1-0 victory over bottom of the table Western University.

Pich Sina’s 45th minute goal turned out to be the match winner for the University-backed side, who find themselves in the mid-table after their fourth win in nine matches.

Praks are the leading pack

Family connections have always added extra spice to a sporting contest, and the Prak clan are currently blazing a trail through this year’s Metfone C-League.

Former national team and Naga Corp coach Prak Sovannara is now at the helm of PKR, while his older brother Vuthy is coach of Boeung Ket.

Their eldest brother Prak Somony, meanwhile, is technical advisor to league leaders National Police, with whom his son Mony Phirun plays as second choice goalkeeper.

Somony’s more famous son Prak Mony Odom is midfielder for PKR as well as featuring regularly for the national team.

To contact the reporters on this story: Dan Riley at [email protected]

H S Manjunath at [email protected]