Kathmandu, November 9:

Saraswoti Youth Club (SYC) and Machhindra Energizer Football Club registered their first wins at the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Machhindra defeated Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) 2-1 and Saraswoti beat Boys’ Union Club (BUC) 2-1. With the win Saraswoti climbed up to eighth position from 10th while Machhindra moved to 10th from the 13th.

Subham Shrestha and Sudip Limbu scored for Machhindra while Susan Bhandari scored for JYC. Subham headed home on a corner kick from Nirmal Tamang in the 12th minute before Sudip doubled their lead eight minutes later.

Susan pulled one back for JYC in the 87th minute and a minute later he almost levelled the scores but was unlucky to hit the bar. Sudip Limbu of Machhindra won the Adidas man-of-the-match award.

Machhindra coach Fuja gave his players the full credit to their hard work and dedication. He even boosted his team’s chances of claiming the sixth position. “The result has come as a shock to me,” said JYC coach Megh Raj KC. “We did not play to our potential,” said KC. In the second game, Krishna Malakar and Bijay Gautam scored for Saraswoti while Raju Rai pulled one back for BUC. A solo effort from Malakar put Saraswoti in the lead in the 41st minute before Gautam added another in the first half injury time.

Raju Rai pulled one back for BUC in the 53rd minute and came close to finding the equaliser twice. Saraswoti goalie Chhanuram Chaudhary made a wonderful save in the 65th minute denying Kendra Limbu’s powerful strike and Bimal Karki squandered a certain goal in the 86th minute. Karki was in comfortable position to loft the ball over advancing goalie Chaudahry but gave a simple catch. Bijay Gautam was adjudged the Adidas man-of-the-match.

Saraswoti coach Lokesh Thapa said that their primary concern would be to avoid relegation.

“We won the match but I am not satisfied as we came close to sharing the points,” he said. BUC did not attend the post-match press meet.