Kathmandu, February 3:

Carlsberg Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) climbed two spots up to the third position after their 3-0 win over New Road Team (NRT) while Sankata Kathmandu Mall Club remained ninth despite beating sixth placed NIB Friends Club 1-0 in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Michael Bassey, Salau Nurudeen and Anil Gurung scored for MMC while Pukar Gahatraj scored the solitary goal for Sankata. Tribhuvan Army Club lead the standing with 53 points from 21 games, four points ahead of Mahendra Police Club who have played a game less. MMC have 44 points and are ahead of Nabil Three Star Club on better goal difference. APF are fifth with 43 points.

Bassey put the defending champions ahead with a spectacular 25-yard left-footed drive that sailed into the top left corner of the post. Nurudeen doubled the tally in the 67th minute when he capitalised on a misunderstanding between NRT defender Deepak Tamang and goalkeeper Surendra Tamang to score in an unguarded post.

Anil Gurung ensured MMC’s win heading home on a cross from Khum Gurung in the 73rd minute — his 20th goal of the league. MMC’s Prashant Giri won the Adidas man of the match award.

Pukar Gahatraj found the late winner for Sankata. Gahatraj converted from close range after teammate Chetan Ghimire’s header landed just in front of him following a free kick from Biraj Maharjan in the 88th minute. Earlier, Subir Muratali Ali squandered a certain goal for Friends in the 36th minute. In a situation where Ali had only Sankata goalkeeper Rupak Shrestha to beat, he missed the target from less than five-yards. Ranjeet Shrestha was adjudged the man of the match.

Sankata Club coach Maheshwor Mulmi praised his boys for their brilliant performance. “They put on a valiant effort today,” said Mulmi adding that five of their teenage players were not under training due to the exam. Friends coach Ashok KC said that Sankata were at their best. “They (Sankata) deserved the win as they played their best ever game of the league,” KC said.

Today’s matches

• BUC vs Three Star @ 12:30pm

• APF vs Machhindra @ 2:30pm