Phnom Penh Crown’s Pheak Rady (l) vies with National Police Commissary’s Nuon Borey during their Metfone C-League game at Olympic Stadium on Saturday. The match was drawn 1-1. Photograph: Sreng Meng Srun/Phnom Penh Post

Naga Corp burst to the top of the Metfone C-League yesterday thanks to a 3-0 win over Boeung Ket Rubber Field at Olympic Stadium.

The two-time league champions were way too good for their Kampong Cham-based opposition and pushed National Police Commissary off the league summit thanks to their superior goal difference.

Both sides have 23 points.

In yesterday’s later kickoff, Chhlam Samuth grabbed a precious point from their match against Ministry of National Defence via a 3-3 draw to move off the foot of the table.

Naga’s Choun Chum continued to find his scoring touch, netting in the 18th and 91st minutes to take his seasonal tally to 13, two ahead of Boeung Ket’s Nwakuna Friday and Police’s Nelson Oladiji in the race for the Golden Boot.

Teab Vathanak nodded in Naga’s second past Boeung Ket in the 34th minute.

Chhlam Samuth then held the Army team to a morale-boosting tie, with Nigerian striker Bisan George, on loan from Boeung Ket, proving the hero.

George opened the scoring on 27 minutes and stepped up to convert a free kick in a late equaliser for his team.

Plong Chanthou had levelled for MND with a header on 39 minutes, only for Sea Sharks captain Silva Sunday to also find the net with his head moments later to put them back in front.

Army captain Khek Khemarin scored yet another header, this time off a Chhin Chhoeun corner kick just past the hour mark, to make it seem like another bad day at the office for Chhlam Samuth.

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But George was at hand in the 84th minute to secure a share of the spoils and lift the Sea Sharks above Western University on goal difference.

It was the first points for the side since their shock 4-0 demolition of Kirivong Sok Sen Chey on April 11.

PKR wallop Western U

Desperately in search of their maiden Metfone C-League triumph, Hun Sen Cup holders Preah Khan Reach began the second half of their 2012 campaign on a rousing note on Saturday, thumping bottom-enders Western University 6-0 at Olympic Stadium.

The University side managed to keep the marauding PKR at bay during the entire length of the first period, though they were down to 10 men by the 43rd minute when Maxwell Woko was given his marching orders following a second yellow.

Their resolution, however, was shattered in the second session.

A minute after the break, Tum Saray broke the ice and what followed was a procession of sorts.

Sok Chanreaksmey, David Njoku, Khuon Laboravy and Olawale Bologun all got on the score sheet with a strike each and the rout was complete.

It was indeed a welcome return to goal-scoring form by star striker Khuon Laboravy, who had briefly been sidelined by injury.

PKR’s seventh victory spurred them into third place in the table with 22 points.

In Saturday’s other fixture, reigning champions Phnom Penh Crown, beaten 2-1 by Ministry of National Defence midweek in their round nine wind-up game, were frustratingly held to a 1-1 draw by table-topping National Police Commissary.

The result meant Crown drifted back to no better than sixth in the standings, 10 points off the pace of the Police and Naga and four behind the last qualifying spot for the Super Four postseason playoffs.

After a barren first half, Crown took the lead in the 54th minute when Odion Obadin converted a penalty.

Even as Crown failed to build on this advantage, the Police men came roaring back into the game when Tit Dina found the leveller in the 74th minute.

To contact the reporters on this story: H S Manjunath at [email protected]

Ung Chamroeun at [email protected]