Kathmandu, January 7:

Tribhuvan Army Club and New Road Team (NRT) defeated Saraswoti Youth Club and Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) respectively with identical 3-0 margin in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football today.

Bikarna Sherstha struck twice and Chakra Tamang netted one for the Armymen. Bikarna leads the highest goal-scorer’s list with 18 goals. Anil Gurung of Carlsberg Manang Marsyangdi Club is second with 14 goals.

After squandering few chances in the first half, the 32nd-minute substitute Chakra Tamang put the Army club ahead in the 59th minute capitalising on a defensive blunder. Four minutes later, Bikarna doubled the through a header on Bishwo Bairag Samal’s cross. Bikarna scored his second goal on a pass from Chakra in the 80th minute. Chakra Tamang won the Adidas man of the match award. In the first leg, the Armymen rallied for a 3-3 draw after Saraswoti scored three goals in 55 minutes.

TAC coach Babukaji Dhaubanjar said that his players were in psychological pressure in the first half. “The 3-3 draw in the first-leg played a big part in the lacklusture first half but they improved after the break,” said Dhaubanjar.

In another match, the three new Bhutanese signings showed an immediate effect in NRT as two of the three goals scored came through a new player. Man of the match Nawang Dendup scored two and Subhash Rai netted another.

Dendup scored the first goal on a goalkeeping mistake in the 58th minute before Rai added another on a spot kick three minutes later. NRT were awarded a penalty after Ajit Thapa brought down Jeevan Sinkeman inside the box. Dendup finished off the game scoring his second goal in his debut match in the 81st minute.

Today’s matches

• JYC vs BBC @ 12:30pm

• MPC vs BUC @ 2:30pm