Kathmandu, February 9:

Santosh Nepali scored the lone goal as Tribhuvan Army Club beat NIB Friends Club 1-0 at the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today. The battle between the relegation-threatened teams — Brigade Boys Club (BBC) and Saraswoti Youth Club — ended in a 1-1 draw in the other match.

The result put the Armymen back on top with 57 points from 22 matches, while second-placed Mahendra Police Club have 54 from 21. Nabil Three Star have 48 and Manang Marsyangdi are fourth with 45. Saraswoti moved up to 12th with 14, ahead of Jawalakhel (13) and BBC (10).

After an eventless first half, the Armymen put pressure on Friends but their strikers failed to utilise the chances. It was Santosh Nepali who gave the breakthrough in the 85th minute when he fired home from the crowded D-box on Mahendra Khawas’ rebound following a Raju Tamang free kick.

Friends also got some opportunities in the second half but failed to score.Bishwo Bairag Samal of TAC was named the Adidas man of the match.

Army coach Babukaji Dhaubanjar accepted his boys were not up to their potential in the second leg. “This was a must-win match for us and the boys came under pressure after they wasted the opportunities in the early moments,” he said.

Asked about Bikarna Shrestha, Dhaubanjar said that he was also surprised with his striker’s current form. “I also don’t know why he has not been able to score,” he said. Shrestha has scored 25 goals and is the highest scorer of the league so far.

Friends coach Ashok KC was happy with his boys’ performance. “To stop such a strong team (TAC) till 85 minutes is not a joke,” he said. “I missed our striker Nilendra Dewan (hamstring injury) today,” said KC. “We also got some opportunities but failed to cash on,” he added.

In the first match, BBC took lead in the 38th minute when Shekhar Limbu’s left-footed cross from the left-flank entered the goal beating out-of-position Saraswoti goalkeeper Chhannu Ram Chaudhary.

Krishna Malakar found the equaliser in the 89th minute through a 30-yard free kick. Limbu was declared the Adidas man of the match.

BBC coach Hari Om Shrestha said that the draw was a severe blow in their run to avoid relegation. “The boys have not been able to play to their potential,” he added. “Our next match against Boys Union Club will decide our fate,” he said.

Saraswoti Club coach Lokesh Thapa also not happy with his players’ performance. “This was our crunch time and the boys failed to perform,” he said adding that the win would have put them in the safer side.

Today’s matches

• Manang vs APF @ 12:30pm

• Three Star vs RCT @ 2:30pm