Reaching for the top

National star Sam El Nasa came off the bench to score Preah Khan Reach's winner and send them to the top of the CPL

Whilst Preah Khan Reach took top honours in the Cambodia Premier League this afternoon, with a 2-1 win over Khemara Keila, the much-fancied Phnom Penh Crown took another nosedive, this time losing 3-2 against Build Bright. One of two Muslim players in the national team, Sam El Nasa came off the bench to score Preah Khan's second-half winner in today's first game after Kouch Sokumpheak had equalised from the penalty spot and looked set to give Khemara a share of the points. In the second game, Crown were 3 goals down before they got their act together but it was too little too late as Hem Simay, the BBU goalkeeper covered himself in second-half glory with brave saves and point-blank stops to help his side record a shock victory. With Crown suffering yet another defeat its thrown the whole CPL wide open even at this early stage of the season. Crown have also been rocked by the sale of their ace Cameroonian striker Jean-Roger Lappe Lappe to one of the Samut teams in the Thai Premier League, either Samut Songkhram or Samut Sakhon, not sure which one as no-one seems to know. He was sold a couple of weeks ago but Crown forgot to tell the press. And young French goalkeeper Simon Tracol has also returned home after a couple of matches for Crown.

Now sitting proudly at the top of the CPL - Preah Khan Reach

Phnom Penh Crown and Build Bright enter the Olympic Stadium for the 2nd match of the day

Has the Phnom Penh Crown bubble burst, with their 2nd consecutive defeat?

Build Bright's 2nd half hero, goalkeeper Hem Simay