MCL weekend round-up

Phnom Penh Crown returned to the top of the Metfone C-League table in pretty emphatic style on Sunday, handing Asia Euro University a lesson in taking your chances, winning 9-1 at the Olympic Stadium. Nigerian striker George Bisan netted four times after the interval to take his tally for the season to ten goals. In the opening half, new arrival Adriano Pellegrino made his presence felt with two goals of his own and two free-kicks, perfectly placed on the heads of Odion Obadin and Hong Pheng, who found the back of the net. Thourng Da also got his name on the scoresheet, while Sary Mathnorotin netted AEU’s consolation. Crown head coach Sam Schweingrunber was keen to give AEU their dues. “You have to give them credit for trying to attack us, being positive and creating a few chances. That gave us space and with our superior power, we kept punishing them. It all came together for us.” Knocked off the top spot by Crown’s success, NagaCorp went down meekly to the Army, in the earlier match on Sunday. Pom Tola scored a scorcher of a free-kick and Phoung Soksana scored Army’s other, as they inflicted a surprise defeat on the casino-backed club. Japanese-import Masahiro Fukasawa netted Naga’s late consolation. The military team have it all to do again this coming weekend, when they face leaders Phnom Penh Crown on Sunday. Will lightning strike twice at the Olympic Stadium?

Boeung Ket kept in touch with the league leaders, scraping through with a 2-1 win over bottom-club Albirex Niigata. Chukwuma Uhuruogu and Keo Sokpheng scored a goal in each half, with Mat Hasan scoring for Albirex with the last kick of the game. Pich Sina’s second minute goal gave Build Bright a slim margin of victory over TriAsia, who are dropping down the table after a bright start to the season. The win moved BBU up into fourth place. Svay Rieng put their recent AFC President’s Cup disappointment behind them and thrashed Western University 5-0 at the Army Stadium. The goalscoring honours went to Bata Dzarma with a hat-trick and two goals from Nob Tola, with all the goals coming in the second half. Another five-goal haul on Saturday went to the National Police team, who inflicted the whitewash on Kirivong. Noun Borey took his tally for the season to nine goals with a hat-trick.