Dharan, March 13:

African United opened their defence with a 2-0 win over Dharan Club ‘blue’ in ninth Budha Subba Gold Cup football tournament here today.

Muratali Ali and Raymond Oduku scored one goal each within the space of five minutes. Ali lobbed over advancing goalkeeper Saroj Rai to provide African United the lead in the 73rd minute. Saroj was beaten moments after he replaced injured Amit Rai. Oduku added another in the 77th minute with a 30-yard strike.

“Our players were under pressure from the beginning and lost the game,” said Dharan coach Dilli Ram Shrestha. “We are confident to defend the title,” said African United coach Fuja. “We will easily win the tournament provided our players perform the way they did today,” added Fuja.

Earlier, former Dharan players Chandra Kumar Pradhan and Gopal Man Shrestha inaugurated the event.