PHNOM PENH (3 April 2012) – It’s turning out to be a painful season for defending champions Phnom Penh Crown FC when they stumbled to their second loss in three matches of the new Metfone Cambodia League season.
The city side who are back to back winners of the league in 2010 and 2011, seemed to be out of synch when they fell to a 2-1 loss to newcomes Boueng Ket Rubber Field FC. The score at the half was 1-0 t0 the advantage of Boueng Ket when Yop Romanton fired in the lead on 13 minute.
But while Chan Chaya did manage to find the equaliser for the side led by former Brunei coach David Booth just a minute after the restart, there was no stopping Boueng Ket from raking in the full points when Sin Dalin knocked in the winner with a minute left of the tie.
With the win, Boueng Ket improved to fourth from sixth while Phnom Penh lost ground as they went further down from seventh to eighth with their misery compounded further by the loss of Chan Dara in the closing stages of the game.
In the meantime, former champions Naga Corp FC were held to a 1-1 draw by National Defense Ministry FC. The score at the end of the first half was 0-0.
But just seven minutes into the second half, Teab Vathanak nailed the opener for Naga Corp before National Defense replied with the equaliser off Pom Tola ten minutes to the end.
With just the one point, second-placed Naga Corp have lost pace with league leaders National Police who have amassed nine point from three matches. Naga have played a game more and have picked up seven points.
CURRENT METFONE CAMBODIA LEAGUE 2012 STANDINGS
| No | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS | |
| 1 | National Police | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 9 | |
| 2 | Naga Corp | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 7 | |
| 3 | Preah Khan Reach | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 6 | |
| 4 | Boeung Ket Rubber Field | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | National Defense Ministry | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| 6 | Western University | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 4 | |
| 7 | Phnom Penh Crown | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 | |
| 8 | Build Bright United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 | |
| 9 | Kirivong Sok SenChey | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 | |
| 10 | Chhlam Sakmut | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | -10 | 0 | |
