KATHMANDU: NIBL Friends Club made a fine start to their British Gurkha Cup football tournament campaign with a 2-0 win over 10-man Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) here at the Dasharath Stadium today. In the inaugural match, Azad Pradhan and Nirajan Khadka scored a goal each to secure three points in the Group ‘A’. Pradhan gave Friends the 16th minute lead, converting a low volley following a corner kick from Pukar Gahatraj. Friends kept piling pressure on the JYC but squandered several goal scoring opportunities. Bharat Khawas was on the frame when he attempted a sliding shot but missed the post in the 25th minute. JYC goalkeeper Min Bahadur Basnet also denied Khawas four minutes later. JYC made four shots on target in the first half but couldn’t find the back of the net. Sunil Raut headed a corner from Prabin Manandhar in the 37th minute but Friends’ custodian Rupak Shrestha denied him. Two minutes later Manandhar missed the target by inches following a pass from striker Raj Kumar Ghising. Friends could have doubled their lead in the 61st minute had Bharat Khawas not missed on a chance in one-to-one with JYC goalie Basnet. At the other end, Friends’ custodian Shrestha also foiled a long range strike three minutes later. The JYC keeper made yet another save, blocking a powerful header from Jaggu Nath Khadka. JYC were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute after Prabin Manandhar was sent off for his second bookable offence for handling the ball inside the danger zone. JYC missed out on a rare chance to equalise when a Friends defender blocked a three-yard shot from Aman Sherchan in a situation when the goalkeeper was out of frame. Friends ensured their victory in the first minute of extra time when Nirajan Khadka scored a sensational goal heading home a corner from Azad Pradhan. Despite the victory Friends’ coach Mrigendra Mishra was not happy with the way his team played. “We muffed up many scoring opportunities and didn’t play according to the plan. I hope to improve the game in the upcoming matches,” said Mishra. Mishra’s counterpart Kishore KC said that his decision to field new players backfired. KC also rued the missed opportunities in the match. “It was a new team for me and the experienced players were not up to the mark. We will be facing tough teams ahead and hope the results to be in our favour other matches,” added the coach. JYC will next play title favourite Nepal Police Club (NPC) and Eastern Region-XI.