Kathmandu, January 15:

Leaders Tribhuvan Army Club and defending champions Carlsberg Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) registered hard-fought win over their opponents in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football today.

The Armymen defeated Boys Union Club (BUC) 1-0 on a goal from Bikarna Shrestha while Anil Gurung ensured MMC’s win in its 1-0 victory over NIB Friends Club. The Army club leads the table with 47 points, six points ahead than Mahendra Police Club which has played a game less. Friends Club remained at sixth with 25 points and BUC on 11th.

In the first match, Boys Union missed as many as four good chances before Bikarna found the decider in the 76th minute. Bikarna headed home after Biswo Bairag Samal’s attempt rebounded off the BUC goalie Deepak Dangol. Earlier, BUC’s Raju Rai wasted a chance in the 15th minute before Army goalkeeper Bikash Malla denied him in the 33rd minute. Rai was also unlucky when his shot rebounded off the bar two minutes after break. Malla also denied Pale Khadka in the 58th minute. Sagar Ghimire won the Adidas man of the match award. In the first leg Army had beaten BUC 9-1.

Friends dominated most of the time in the second game but it was Anil Gurung’s 22nd minute goal that separated the two teams. Gurung scored the winner when Salau Nurudeen’s powerful strike rebounded off the Friends goalkeeper Uzol Manandhar. Subir Muratali Ali of Friends Club won the man of the match award.

Today’s matches

• Saraswoti vs Sankata @ 12:30pm

• BBC vs Machhindra @ 2:30pm