True to their growing reputation as daring attackers the North Korean pair of Kim Kyong-hun and Myong Ho-choe struck a goal each for the Ministry of National Defence in their well-merited 2-1 win over Boeung Ket Angkor in a high profile Metfone C-League clash at the floodlit Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

A late equaliser from Keo Sokgnon helped six-time champions Phnom Penh Crown hold Western Phnom Penh to a 2-2 draw in yesterday’s first match at the Western Stadium

Sticking to their brand of rugged style of play, the Army outfit held sway over Boeung Ket with those two second half strikes after both ends had seen plenty of first half action. Boeung Ket pulled one back through Samuel Gbenga to add pep to the finish but the Armymen were in mood to loosen their grip.

The team’s fourth victory catapulted MND to the top of the table with 12 points while Boeung Ket slipped to their first defeat in four outings.

It was young Um Sereyroth’s tight vigil in the MND goal that frustrated promising moves by Boeung Ket during the first half which also saw the Armymen ruffle Boeung Ket’s feathers a few times But the decisive moment for MND came in the 51st minute when Kim found himself in a vantage spot inside the box and slotted home under Boeung Ket keeper Sou Yati.

The Army doubled their advantage after Myong came up with a tidy angular shot from inside the box. But two minutes after this second setback, Boeung Ket managed to reduce the margin when Samuel Gbenga unleashed a fierce drive from outside the box after his teammate Emoh Omogba’s first attempt had deflected the ball back into play off a defender’s leg.

In Saturday’s first fixture, Cambodian Tiger FC beat Cambodian Mines Action Center 3-1. While Muramatsu Tomoki scored a brace for the winners, Taing Sopheak chipped in with the third. The lone CMAC goal came from Un Chy.

Preak Khan Reach Svay Rieng provided plenty of cheer for the home fans by handing out a 2-1 defeat to the visiting NagaWorld in a hard fought encounter on Friday.

The victory for PKR was fashioned by Atuehire Kipson who accounted for a goal each in either half. In fact, the home side also ended up gifting a goal to their rivals when defender Nen Sothearath turned the ball into his own net in the 58th minute.