Lalitpur, April 17

Friends Club came out of relegation zone for the first time this season following their 6-0 victory over Himalayan Sherpa Club, while Three Star Club and Church Boys United played a tame goalless draw in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here today.

Rafiq Aminu scored a brace, while Akhrorbek Uktamov, Amit Tamang, Uttam Rai and Torric Jebrin netted one goal each as Friends registered their second win in nine matches. They moved out of the relegation zone for the first time after they accumulated eight points and climbed to 12th position in the 14-team table. Sherpa remained at the 11th place with nine points.

Friends scored three goals on either half. Aminu gave Friends an early lead after he opened the scoring in the third minute of the match at the ANFA Complex grounds.

Another foreign recruit Uktamov doubled the tally in the 32nd minute, while Aminu made it 3-0 six minutes later with his second goal of the match.

Amit Tamang extended the lead in the 58th minute, while Uttam Tamang made it 5-0 in the 72nd minute.

Jebrin completed the scoring with his team's sixth goal in the fifth minute of the injury time.

In the last match of the ninth round played at the Chyasal Stadium, Three Star were held to a 0-0 draw by top flight newcomers United.

Both Three Star and United have 15 points each and they are tied with two other teams - Manang Marshyangdi Club and Sankata Club. At the end of nine rounds, Jawalakhel Youth Club are at the top of the table ahead of Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club after they were tied on 17 points.

Two-time defending champions Machhindra FC are seventh on 13 points, followed by departmental teams Tribhuvan Army FC (13) and Nepal APF FC (12).

Newcomers FC Khumaltar are at the 10th position with 10 points.

A version of this article appears in the print on April 18, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.