KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 26

Machhindra Football Club ended the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League campaign with an unbeaten record following their 2-1 victory over Nepal APF Club in the last match here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Abhishek Gurung and Rejin Subba scored for Machhindra, while Pradip Lama replied for APF. Machhindra, who had sealed the second straight crown with two rounds remaining, ended with 35 points. They recorded 11 victories and played two draws.

Both teams ended with 10 men after Machhindra's Sonam Zangpo Bhutia and APF's Awas Lamichhane were expelled in the 89th minute. APF had a strong penalty appeal turned down by referee Suman Shrestha.

Machhindra coach Prabesh Katuwal was satisfied with the overall performance of the team and lauded his boys for defending the title without much trouble. 'We have achieved the target of winning the title as an unbeaten side,' said Katuwal. 'And the overall journey was also not very difficult as we had prepared well before the league.'

Katuwal said he got the chance to learn a lot in his A Division League debut with Machhindra in the previous edition and the experience helped him for this season.

'We had to wait until the last match in the previous season but we sealed the title with two rounds remaining this time around. I would like to thank the club management for believing in the team and supporting me throughout the tournament,' added Katuwal.

Tribhuvan Army Football Club finished second on better goal difference after being tied on 23 points with New Road Team. TAFC played a 1-1 draw with Manang Marshyangdi Club in the last match, while New Road Team defeated Nepal Police Club 3-1. MMC skipper Anjan Bista put his side ahead in the first half, while MMC defender Franklin Kuete Talla scored an own goal that allowed TAFC earn a point.

TAFC also finished as an unbeaten side after they recorded five wins and played eight draws, while NRT leapfrogged MMC and Satdobato. NRT finished third with six wins and five draws. Satdobato came fourth in their A Division debut season, while MMC were fifth despite being tied on 21 points with the newcomers.

Giant-killers Satdobato, who were at the top of the table at one stage, and MMC both recorded six wins and played three draws.

Three Star Club came sixth on 19 points, while Sankata Club were seventh on 16, one more than Nepal APF Club, who rose to top half despite struggling in the first half of the season. At the bottom half, Jawalakhel Youth Club and Himalayan Sherpa Club earned 14 points each, while Nepal Police Club finished 11th with 12 points and Friends Club were 12th on 11 points. Two Lalitpur-based sides, Brigade Boys Club (eight) and Chyasal Youth Club (six) were relegated to B Division.

Champions Machhindra earned Rs 7.5 million, while TAFC earned Rs 5 million and third-placed NRT got Rs 2.5 million. Sunil Bal of Machhindra was adjudged the player of the series and he earned Rs 300,000, while his teammate Bishal Shrestha was declared the best goalkeeper and he got Rs 200,000. TAFC's Dinesh Henjan was named the emerging player and he got Rs 150,000, whereas Jamoul Anthony Francois of Friends and Messouke Etiegnie Oloumou of NRT were the joint highest scorer with seven goals. But Francois got the trophy and cash prize of Rs 200,000 as he had played less number of matches.

Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, Nepal Olympic Committee President Jeevan Ram Shrestha, All Nepal Football Association President Karma Tsering Sherpa and Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan among others handed over the prizes to the winners.

League Stats

• Matches: 91

• Goals: 190

• Penalties: 8

• Hat-tricks: 3

• Own Goals: seven

• Yellow Cards: 265

• Red Cards: 6

• Emerging Player: Dinesh Henjan (TAFC)

• Best Goalkeeper: Bishal Shrestha (Machhindra)

• Highest Scorer: Jamoul Anthony Francois (Friends), Messouke Etiegnie Oloumou (NRT)

• Best Player: Sunil Bal (Machhindra)

• Fair Play: Satdobato Youth Club

A version of this article appears in the print on February 27, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.