Sambo's the match-winner

Naga's experience told in the end, with a 4-3 success

Naga Corp effectively sealed their spot in the Super 4 play-offs with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Preah Khan Reach in this afternoon's Metfone C-League opener, but they had to grind out the victory against opponents who were reduced to ten men as early as the 33rd minute. The PKR coaching staff chose a vastly inexperienced line-up for the game against their older and wiser opponents but felt vindicated as early as the eighth minute when Sok Chanraksmey dinked his touch over Phorn Ratana to give his side an early lead. Booked for leaving the pitch to celebrate the birthday of his daughter with a t-shirt message, his action would come back to haunt him soon after. In the twelfth minute, Naga squared the score-line as Sun Sovannrithy headed in under little pressure from Sun Sopanha's free-kick, with PKR's second-string keeper Aim Sovannarath all at sea. Naga then grabbed the lead on 24 minutes as Kop Isa was allowed to run unopposed through the middle and he lashed his shot into the roof of the net. Preah Khan's misery was compounded on 33 minutes as referee Chi Samedy decided that Chanraksmey's shoulder challenge on Sopanha was worthy of a second yellow and he took an early bath. Maybe he will give his daughter a birthday card next time around. The messing about continued seven minutes before the break as Om Thavrak's control let him down and let in Bologun Olawale, who couldn't believe his luck and rolled the ball into an empty net to make it 2-2. Just after the hour mark, Khuon Laboravy nicked the ball off the fingers of Ratana and slotted his side ahead but it was Naga substitute Chhim Sambo who had the last laugh. Almost immediately he netted to make it 3-3 and then in time added on, four minutes to be precise, he grabbed the match-winner as Sovannarath and his youthful defence crumbled.

Preah Khan's youthful 10-men went down 4-3 in time added on