Kathmandu, January 6:

Mahendra Police Club (MPC) played a 2-2 draw against defending champions Nabil Three Star Club (TSC) in the last match of the first leg in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football Tournament here today.

With the end of the first-leg, MPC - the only unbeaten club in the league - leads the table with 34 points. Manang Marsyangdi Club (32) lies second with better goal difference with the TSC. Tribhuvan Army Club (31) is in the fourth position.

In the absence of three key players - Hari Khadka, Ramesh Budthoki and Rakesh Shrestha - Jumanu Rai and Suman Subedi scored one goal each for MPC while Vijay Gurung and Surendra Tamang scored for Three Star.

In the first half, Jumanu ruined a golden chance early in the 10th minute as he shot wide of the target in one-to-one situation with Three Star goalkeeper Upendra Man Singh, who was forced for a full length dive to also MPC’s stand-in skipper Ananta Thapa’s free kick in the 15th minute. Jumanu muffed up another chance four minutes later.

Jumanu, however, did not miss on the third occasion when he fired home from close range in the 26th minute following Ananta’s head pass. Three Star was lucky to have equalised just before the first-half whistle, the only chance they created in the half. Fed by Pradeep Maharjan, Bijay Gurung struck the powerful shot into the second bar.

TSC players found their rythm in the seocnd half and took just nine minutes to add another goal. Surendra Tamang flicked the header behind the bars on Rajesh Shahi’s cross. Surendra would have changed the course of the game completely in favour of Three Star had not he missed a rare opportunity in the 62nd minute. With nobody around and only MPC goalie Ritesh Thapa to beat, Surendra instead shot straight to his hands.

MPC levelled the scores a minute later as Suman Subedi headed home on Parbat Pandey’s corner kick. TSC would have found the winner in the 81st minute had not MPC skipper Ananta cleared the ball from goal line in an unguarded post.

Three Star coach Migrendra Mishra was not happy with the players ‘performance. “Our defence was extremely poor and we conceded the first goal bacause of the poor marking,” Mishra said.

MPC skipper Ananta Thapa said that the new players complemented very well the absence of the experienced players. “I am extremely satisfied with the result,” Thapa said, adding “Drawing against Three Star, who have 10 national players, gives no room for complaint.”