KATHMANDU: Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) defeated Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) 2-0 while Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) came out from the relegation zone with a 1-0 win over Boys Union Club (BUC) in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Bikarna Shrestha scored a brace as the Armymen jumped two places up to fifth. TAC bettered Nabil Three Star Club (11 points) on better goal difference. Meanwhile, JYC scripted seven points to climb

three spots up to eighth with seven points. BUC, who lost their first match under new coach Kumar Katuwal, have five points.

Bikarna was involved in almost all TAC attacks and a minute after muffing up a chance in one-on-one with RCT custodian Dillip Chhetri, he struck in the 26th minute. Santosh Nepali displayed a brilliant dribbling skills to feed Bikarna, who had dodged the offside trap, and the striker converted rounding off goalie Chhetri.

In the 35th minute, Bikarna beat the offside trap once again but couldn’t meet a sublime cross from Shiva Chaudhary. The striker then doubled the lead in the 62nd with a solo effort driving the ball from the centre to beat Chhetri.

RCT were out of sorts and their only notable attack came in the 56th minute when TAC goalkeeper Bikash Malla had to do some stretching while blocking a powerfully struck shot from Dipak Rai.

TAC coach Raju Kaji Shakya said his side cashed in on their opponents’ coordination lapses. “We were anticipating a tough match but that did not happen as we made the most of their mistakes,” said Shakya.

Earlier, a 28th minute strike from Laxmi provided a sigh of relief for JYC as the Lalitpur-based outfit came out of relegation zone. Laxmi converted close from the goalline after he met a rebound off BUC goalkeeper Binaya Shrestha who had blocked a Raj Poudyal shot.

JYC goalkeeper Bikram Gurung denied three threatening attacks from BUC in the 18th, 65th and 86th minutes. First, he blocked a powerfully

struck shot from Shekhar Limbu and brilliantly punched Kamal Shrestha’s shot from the edge. In the 86th minute Pale Khadka’s 25-yard shot hit the cross bar after Bikram got his hands to the ball.

JYC assistant coach Raja Ram Karki said his side was recovering with injuries. “We are getting a bit of momentum since the boys are recovering from their injuries. If they recover fully, we can give a better performance,” said Karki. BUC coach Katuwal said he was satisfied with the team’s performance but expressed concerns over the performance of midfielders.