National Defence Minstry beat Kirivong Sok Sen Chey 4-0 and Wat Phnom defeat Prek Pra Keila 6-3 in their 2010 Metfone C-League clashes Saturday

Photo by: Nick Sells (www.nicksellsphotography.com)

National Defence Ministry’s Ke Vannak (right) vies with Kirivong Sok Sen Chey’s Sa Nasiet during their Metfone C-League match at Olympic Stadium Saturday.

THE Army boys from the National Defence Ministry (MND) team have certainly got the bit between their teeth at the start of the new Metfone C-League season. With the Samdech Hun Sen Cup already in their locker this year, they moved effortlessly to their second consecutive league win with a 4-0 demolition of Kirivong Sok Sen Chey Saturday at Olympic Stadium.

Though the Takeo-based team dominated early possession, posting a corner kick count of 16-2 in their favour, it was the Army side who provided the live ammunition to fire themselves ahead on 28 minutes.

National team starlet Um Kompheak, who improves with every game, drilled a 20-yard drive in off the upright, while at the other end, stand-in skipper Thong Udom kept Kirivong’s dangerman Julius Chukwumeka well shackled.

MND lost influential captain Khim Borey with a foot injury early on, and replacement Sin Dalin went close twice as the first half came to a close.

Um Kompheak signalled his growing stature with a second goal on 53 minutes. Pheak Rady’s inch-perfect free kick found the 18-year-old all alone at the near post, and his header nestled in the back of the net.

Kirivong sparked briefly with Him Salam lashing a drive against the crossbar, but it was to no avail. MND’s simple but effective style took them further ahead.

On 73 minutes, Sin Dalin fed Phuong Soksana and his twice-struck shot careened in off the studs of Sok Va to leave Kirivong keeper Kun Thnou flat-footed.

In the final minute of the game, Soksana repaid the compliment by releasing Sin Dalin down the left flank, and as the defenders backed off, he blasted the ball into the roof of the net.

Arms raised, the MND players celebrated their success and ever-growing confidence, which will be put to the test next Saturday when they face last season’s champions Naga Corp. It promises to be an early season cracker.

Wat Phnom 6 Prek Pra Keila 3

Wat Phnom had the stuffing knocked out of them last week by Phnom Penh Crown and were determined to turn the tables on newboys Prek Pra Keila in Saturday’s league encounter.

From the kick off they pressed Prek Pra, and it took just fourteen minutes for skipper Phlong Chanthou to take full advantage of a sloppy back pass from defender Ly Sophy and guide the ball into the unguarded net.

Prek Pra’s first-half defending was woeful, but they did manage an equaliser on 22 minutes when stand-in striker Philip Ali got his head to a corner kick.

At the other end of the pitch, Wat Phnom were having a field day and six minutes later Henry Asonibe powered in an unopposed header to put them back in front. On 35 minutes, a game of ping-pong in the Prek Pra penalty box ended with a clean strike through a swarm of players by Asonibe. Two minutes later, the diminutive Phoeurn Saorum dived full length to head in Phlong Chanthou’s telling centre to give Wat Phnom a commanding 4-1 half time lead.

On the hour mark, Asonibe converted a penalty kick to complete his hat trick after Mat Phalla clipped the heels of Saorum as he surged through. It was still pretty much one-way traffic, although Prek Pra gave their large contingent of supporters something to cheer about with a second goal for Philip Ali on 79 minutes, and a last-minute goal for substitute Feut Soulkiply.

In between, Phoeurn Saorum blasted in a sixth goal for a very contented Wat Phnom, who claim their first points of the new league season.