KATHMANDU: Boys Union Club held Nabil Three Star Club to a 1-1 draw in one of the most ugliest matches at the Dasharath Stadium on the third day of the British Gurkha Cup.

The match saw some dirty moments when Three Star substitute Prabin Karki punched FIFA assistant referee Madhu Sudan Khanal on his face after the final whistle, while the Boys Union players tried to manhandle referee Sudish Pandey protesting the dismissal of Sudip Limbu. Pandey -- the first batch product of the Asian Football Confederation's Future Project -- showed red card to Karki as and when the incident happened, while Sudip was dismissed after the second bookable offence.

The referees' panel has submitted a report to the organising committee and the ANFA recommending stern action against Karki. The disciplinary committee formed under the ANFA would decide the action against the player. In a similar incident that took place during the Martyrs' Memorial 'A' Division League four years ago, Bishnu Sunuwar of Brigade Boys Club was banned for 18 months after he attacked FIFA referee Surendra Sikhrakar.

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said the attack on the referee was a heinous act. "I agree it is the player's mistake and he should be penalised," said Bal Gopal, who also officiated matches at the Dasharath Stadium as a referee after retiring from three Star. "He (Prabin) could not control his anger over the assistant referee who had wrongly ruled the ball in and Boys Union got the equaliser," said Bal Gopal.

Boys Union coach Bijaya Maharjan, on the duty for the first time, also accepted the players from his team also breached disciplines at times. He, however, expressed happiness over the players' performance. "We played against one of the top teams in Nepal and succeeded to steal a point," he added.

On the field, Three Star got off to a flying start following Santosh Sahukhala's excellent goal from a tight angle in the third minute. Three Star were right on the target when Sahukhala scored from difficult angle inside the area following a long cross from Anjan KC. Sahukhala could have doubled the lead for his team eight minutes later had he not muffed up a one-to-one chance with Boys Union goalkeeper Dasharath Adhikari.

Boys Union then found the equaliser in the 19th minute through Suvam Shrestha. The goal came after Three Star defenders did not bother to clear Raju Rai's free kick that bounced inside the 18-yard box. With referee Pandey and assistant referee Khanal unmoved, a Boys Union player passed the ball back to Suvam, who simply tapped in past Three Star goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong. Three Star players protested the goal but the decision stood by and the game continued with out much trouble.

Boys Union almost went ahead in the 22nd minute but Tanka Basnet's powerful header curved few inches wide off the post. In the dying moments of first half, Sahukhala failed to beat a lone defender inside the area.

Midfielder Pradeep Maharjan, playing competitive football for the first time in two years since brweaking his leg during a friendly match in Thailand before the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in 2008, was on the frame in the 56th minute but his powerful shot was foiled by Boys Union goalkeeper Adhikari, who also saved Pradeep's header a minute later.

In the 63rd minute, Tanka Basnet made an excellent

run from the centre but muffed up the chance with

an uncontrolled shot. Boys Union were down to 10 men in the 75th minute following a sent off of Sudip Limbu for

his second bookable offence. Three Star kept on piling pressure upon the one man short Boys Union but couldn't break the deadlock.

Earlier in a lopsided match, Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) hammered Mid and Far West-XI 10-2, riding on four goals from Dipak Rai and hat-tricks from Rishi Rai and Yogesh Gurung.

Yogesh Gurung opened the account for RCT in the 10th minute and doubled the lead with a powerful header following a cross from Prabesh Katuwal six minutes later.

Dipak Rai then came into action beating the offside trap in the 23rd minute and scored in the 31st and 45th minutes to complete his hat-trick. Mid and Far West reduced the margin in the 21st minute through Milan Sunar's goal.

RCT scored four goals in four minutes to take the tally to 9-1 with Rishi Rai completing his hat-trick — in 70, 71, and 73rd minutes — and Dipak Rai finding the back of the net for his fourth goal in the 72nd minute.

Yogesh completed his hat-trick scoring in the 78th minute, before Manoj Sunar scored the second goal of the Mid and Far West from 30 yards in the 74th minute.