Defending Champions Nabil Three Star Club (NTSC) beat Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) 1-0 and Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) beat Friends Club (FC) 2-0 at Dashrath Stadium while Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) beat Rani Pokhari Corner Team (RCT) 4-0 and Mahabir Club (MC) and Boudha Football Club (BFC) played to a 1-1 tie at Halchowk Stadium in the ANFA Martyrs’ Memorial “A” Division League Football Tournament.
A solitary goal from Surendra Tamang of NTSC in the 63rd minute was enough to beat JYC to stay atop the league table with a two point lead over MMC.
In the other game at Dashrath Stadium, Manang Marshyangdi Club kept pace with NTSC beating Friends Club 2-0 to stay in second place. After a goalless first half, Nigerian import Imoh Daniel Ekong drew first blood for MMC in the 77th minute, utilizing the pass off Basanta Gauchan inside the six-yard box. Later, skipper Kumar Thapa doubled the tally off yet another Nigerian Nuyrudeen Salau’s pass to breathier in the title battle.
Elsewhere at Halchowk Stadium, TAC thrashed RCT 4-0, riding the crest on Raju Tamang, Shiva Chowdhary, Janamat Karki and Chun Bahadur Thapa
In the other match there, Mahabir came back from a one goal deficit to draw the match against Boudha FC. BFC scored early in the match through lanky Bikash Sapkota in the 6th minute. Jhapa-based mid-fielder Babu Lal Hasda restored parity for MC in the 73rd minute.