Kathmandu, September 10:

Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) registered hard-fought victories in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football Tournament at Dasharath Stadium. MMC defeated Bouddha Football Club 2-0 to stay atop the standings with 12 points on better goal difference to the Armymen, who edged past Machhindra Club 3-2.

Khum Gurung put MMC ahead in the 41st minute when the midfielder found the net on his skipper Kumar Thapa’s pass inside the six-yard box. Basanta Gauchan, who returned to the team after two matches due to injury, doubled the tally in the 77th minute following Sandeep Rai’s cross.

Bouddha FC coach Arjun Lama was furious at the post-match press conference after referee Surendra Sikhrakar ruled out their third-minute goal scored by Pradeep Kunwar. “My boys entered the field with high spirit and dominated the opponents, but a bad decision by the referee sank us,” he accused. In the other match, TAC skipper Janamat Karki scored the 100th goal of the tournament to put his team ahead in the 15th minute on Bishwo Bairag Samal’s pass. Samal doubled the lead two minutes later with a header on Shiva Chaudhary’s cross.

Machhindra pulled one back in the 30th minute through Chandra Gurung, who fired home from 20 yards leaving TAC goalkeeper Ram Kumar Chaudhary. Bijay Shahi levelled the scores at 2-2 in the 53rd minute, when his powerful shot from the edge of the area entered the goal. Chaudhary was unmoved on this occasion too. TAC striker Ram Kumar Biswas, who returned back to his original position of attacking defence after the Armymen conceded the second goal, snatched the winner in the 62nd minute when he headed home on Mahendra Khawas’ free kick, which the TAC earned after Subham Shrestha brought down Janamat.