Itahari, Lekhnath advance

Pokhara, August 24:

Binod Thapa scored the winner nine minutes from time to hand Lekhnath Municipality a 3-2 win over Birgunj Sub-metropolitan City in the third Inter-Municipality Football Tournament here at the Pokhara Stadium today. In another match, Itahari Municipality hammered Birendranagar Municipality 9-2.

Binod scored the decider for Lekhnath in the 21st of the 30-minute of the added time after a 2-2 deadlock in the regular time. Tej Pariyar and Bharat Tamang scored for Lekhnath while Ghanashyam Shrestha and Sulabh Jung Rana converted for Birgunj in the regular 90 minutes of play.

Earlier in the first match, Itahari scored five goals in the first half and added four more in the latter half. Rishi Rai and Nirmal Tamang scored a brace each while Prashant Giri, Prabesh Katuwal, Tanka Basnet, Dipesh Rai and Diwas Rai scored a goal each for Itahari. Dinesh Basyal and Bikram Khadka pulled back a goal each, both in the second half, for Birendranagar.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City will take on Malangwa Municipality in the second round match on Saturday. Kathmandu had a first round bye while Malangwa entered the second round after a win over neighbouring Siraha Municipality on Wednesday.