Kathmandu, February 12:

Sola Otegbola scored a hat-trick as Machhindra Energizer Football Club defeated Saraswoti Youth Club 3-2 and Boys Union Club (BUC) overcame a one-goal deficit to beat Brigade Boys Club (BBC) 3-1 in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League today.

Otegbola gave Machhindra the three-goal lead before Deepak Thapa and Bijay Gautam replied for Saraswoti. In another match, Raju Rai struck twice and Kendra Limbu scored another for BUC after Shekhar Limbu had put BBC ahead.

After the completion of the 23rd round, Mahendra Police Club lead the league with 58 points, one more than Tribhuvan Army Club. Nabil Three Star are third with 51, ahead of defending champions Manang Marsyangdi Club (48). Machhindra are seventh with 32, one point behind NIB Friends Club. BUC are 11th with 18, two more than Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club. The bottom two teams Saraswoti and BBC have 14 and 10.

Otegbola put Machhindra ahead in the 10th minute and doubled the tally in the 53rd. Otegbola completed his hat-trick scoring on a pass from Buddha Chemjong in the 65th minute. Deepak Thapa pulled one back on a freekick and Bijay Gautam made it 3-2 in the 90th.

Machhindra coach Fuja said he was confident to win the match. Fuja also said that they still had the realistic chance of finishing the league in the top six. “If my players get fit in time, we have the potential to beat any opponent.”

Saraswoti coach Lokesh Thapa accepted they had very little chance of surviving in the ‘A’ division. “Fixing of some games have affected our endevour to stay in the league,” accused the coach. Asked about his role in match fixing, Thapa outrightly denied his club’s involvement. “We will exhibit true sportsmanship in our remaining matches,” said Thapa but contradicted himself in fury by adding that his team would allow their opponents score as many as 20 goals in a game.

The national league resumes on Thursday after a break of two days.

Stadium turns into battlefield

KATHMANDU: Riot, holiganism and even ‘fixing’ of the game have become common phenomena at the Martyrs Martyrs Memorial League at the Dasharath Stadium.

Adding to these incidents, players on Monday resorted to fighting turning the stadium into a battlefield.

Naresh Shrestha of Boys Union Club and Amit Gurung of Brigade Boys Club instigated the fight in the dying moments of the match. They suddenly started puching and kicking each other and were joined by the team members. Even the team officials and players from the bench entered the ground.

Timely intervention by the security and ANFA officials helped avoid a possible deteriorating situation. Both Naresh and Amit were sent off in the 92nd minute. — HNS