Defending champions Boeung Ket launched their bid for a third straight Metfone C-League title with a 4-3 victory over Asia Euro United at the AEU Sport Park on Saturday.

The Blue Dragon survived some anxious moments towards the end, however, after their 4-0 lead was whittled down by their opponents in the last 10 minutes of the season’s opening game to cling on for all three points.

Playing on their own newly developed pitch, AEU looked down and out after the Nigerian pairing of Esoh Paul Omogba and Julius Oiboh combined to put Boeung Ket two-up.

Oiboh opened the scoring as early as the third minute, with Omogba doubling the lead before half time.

Oiboh was back past the hour-mark to fire two more to complete the season’s first hat-trick.

Then came AEU’s brave fightback. In a matter of eight minutes AEU were breathing down Boeung Ket’s neck.

Marle Privat began the swoop in the 82nd minute, before Okereke Timothy quickly nailed the second. Privat was back at the stroke of regulation time to make it 4-3 before the final whistle brought Boeung Ket relief.

In Saturday’s other matches, six-time champions Phnom Penh Crown beat the visitors from Siem Reap, Soltilo Angkor, who were promoted to the top flight last season from League 1.

Iranian Pouya Hosseini’s 10th minute penalty turned out to be the winner in Crown’s 1-0 win at the RSN Stadium.

In a one-sided affair, National Police slammed Western Phnom Penh 6-0 at the Olympic Stadium.