Kathmandu, May 5:

The All Star team defeated the National League champions Mahendra Police Club 2-1 in a friendly match at the Dasharath Stadium today.

MPC striker Ju Manu Rai put his team ahead in the 30th minute in the match organised by Nepal Sports Journalists Forum to provide match practice for the league champions’ build up for the AFC President’s Cup slated for May 17-27 in Lahore, Pakistan. Rai beat two All Star defenders, an assembled team of various ‘A’ Division clubs, before firing home from close range.

A heavy downpour followed by a brief hailstorm halted the game for 30 minutes and after resumption the All Star team took control of the game. Santosh Sahukhala levelled the scores 25 minutes into the second half with a spectacular 30-yard strike and MPC’s Kunjan Shrestha headed into his own nets to hand All Star the winner three minutes from time.

Ramesh Budhathoki captained MPC in the absence of star playmaker Hari Khadka, who has been ruled out of the third edition of the AFC tournament due to knee injury. Nabil Three Star Club midfielder Rajesh Shahi led the All Star team.

The AFC President’s Cup is the tournament for the eight national league champions of ‘C’ category Asian countries. Three Star Club represented Nepal in the first edition held in Kathmandu in 2005 and Manang Marsyangdi Club travelled to Kuchin, Malaysia in the second edition last year.