Kathmandu, December 25 :

Defending champions Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) gave a severe jolt to Nabil Three Star Club’s effort to bridge the gap with league leaders Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) with a 3-0 mauling in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football here today. Sankata Club beat Brigade Boys’ Club 2-0 in the other match.

After the completion of the first leg, Three Star are at third with nine points behind the TAC and Mahendra Police Club (MPC). TAC and MPC both have 35 points but the former lead the standings on better goal difference. Three Star have 26 points.

Anil Gurung, Michael and Salau Nuruddin scored for Carlsberg MMC while Anil Ojha and Bharat Khawas scored one each for Sankata Club. The 34th-minute substitute Anil Gurung gave MMC the lead in the 45th minute on Raj Kumar Ghising’s cross, after both the teams wasted certain chances in the early minutes.

For Three Star Obagbemiro Junior wasted a certain goal from the goalmouth shooting wide of the target in the seventh minute and Khum was unlucky for MMC when he hit the woodwork twice in the ninth minute.

Michael doubled the lead in the 66th minute following a pass from Nuruddin, whose fierce 30-yard goal ensured MMC’s victory in the 71st minute. Upendra dived full stretched to his right but could not stop the ball from crossing the goalline. Nuruddin won the Adidas man of the match award.

MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung said that the win would boost the confidence of his team. “The players’ performance has generated hope in me,” said Gurung adding that they have been performing poorly of late. He also added that his strategy to field few second choice player in the starting lineup paid off. “I played upon their (TSC) confidence by keeping first choice players on the bench.”

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said that they came under pressure after Junior missed a certain goal early in the game. “We were in deep trouble after conceding the first goal late in the first half,” Maharjan added. Maharjan said that they were still not out of the title race.

In the second game, Anil Ojha’s superb 25-yard free kick put Sankata ahead in the 28th minute before Bharat Khawas’ flicked header on a free kick from Ojha saw Sankata double the lead in the 44th minute.

With the result, Sankata ended the first leg ninth ahead of Machhindra, on goal difference.