A hat-trick of penalty conversions by frontliner Choun Chum powered former champions Naga Corp to a 4-0 victory over Build Bright United, who also suffered the ignominy of three red card bookings in a Metfone C-League encounter at Olympic Stadium yesterday.

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By the time substitute Lawal Onipe Shola nailed Naga’s fourth goal deep into injury time, the University-backed side were down to eight men and hopelessly on their knees.

The signs were ominous for BBU as early as the sixth minute when a dash into the box by Teab Vathanak saw him mishandled by two defenders resulting in one of them bringing down the Naga striker. Choun Chum took a confident spot kick, giving no chance to BBU keeper Heng Simay.

Though BBU managed to keep Naga at bay for the rest of the half, the second session began disastrously for them. Naga midfielder Kop Isa went down under a forceful charge by Heng Simay five minutes after the restart, resulting in a second penalty for Naga.

Again Chun Chun was bang on target.

Though BBU kept themselves in the hunt with several counter attacks, the backline often cracked under Naga pressure.

Nhim Sovanara picked up his second yellow card in the 68th minute, and BBU were so desperate to break out of Naga shackles that both Roeung Bunheang and In Virak went physical in their tackles on Lawal Onipe Shola.

First it was Roeng Bunheang who saw red in the 84th minute, while In Virak’s expulsion three minutes later went with a penalty that Choun Chum converted without ado.

Choun Chum’s was a treble of rarity and on the back of it, Naga were happy to get all three points after their disappointing 4-2 loss to National Police in their season opener the previous wekeend.

Crown down Western University

Defending champions Phnom Penh Crown posted a 2-0 victory over league newcomers Western University in yesterday’s second match.

Newly recruited midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong fired Crown to a 32nd minute lead, and striker Kuoch Sukumpheak’s brilliant solo effort nearing half time provided David Booth’s men a 2-0 cushion.

Though the University lads managed to keep Crown attackers silent with some resilient backline work, they could hardly make goal scoring headway themselves against Crown’s stout defensive work.

Crown had lost their opening game to Preah Khan Reach 3-0 while Western University had earned a creditable goalless draw against the Ministry of Defence.

PKR run rampant, Police win

Hun Sen Cup holders Preah Khan Reach scored a thumping 6-0 victory over Chhlam Samuth in an early kickoff on Saturday.

Double strikes by Chea Samnang and Prak Mony Udom set the tone for PKR’s runaway victory, while Chan Vathanaka and Sok Chanraksmey also got into the score sheet with a goal a piece.

Later on Saturday, National Police Commissary eked out a 2-1 win over debutants Boeung Ket Rubber Field. Sim Vutha’s 14th minute strike was doubled by Oladiji Olatunde in the 37th minute.

The Police held on to the lead until Keo Sokngon pulled one back for Boeung Ket as late as the 79th minute.

The Police lost Sim Vutha to two yellow card bookings while Boeung Ket’s Lar Pichseila saw straight red in injury time.

Report by H S Manjunath