KATHMANDU: A superb low volley from Danish midfielder Sayan Mosavi helped New Road Team (NRT) edge past Nabil Three Star Club 1-0 in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

In another match, Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC), who finished runners up in the previous edition, managed a 1-0 victory over Sankata Kathmandu Mall Club. Shiva Chaudhary struck the winner in the 40th minute for TAC. After registering back to back wins NRT and TAC both have six points each. However, TAC lead the table on better scoring rate.

The match was always going to be a tough for both NRT and Three Star playing with the known stars. Umesh Upreti struck a free-kick in the 34th minute but Kiran Chemjong brilliantly punched the ball for a corner. NRT defender Nabin Neupane then saved his team from going a goal down in the 64th minute. NRT goalkeeper Surendra Shrestha almost reached the midfield while denying Three Star’s Sahukhala but the striker chipped the ball over him only for Nabin to chase down the ball and clear the from the goal line.

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said Nabin’s save was the turning point of the match. “The game would have gone the other way had Santosh’s shot kissed the net,” said Maharjan. Mosavi scored the decider in the 81st minute converting a low volley, struck from the edge of the area following a cross from Ranjeet Shrestha. Three Star custodian Kiran Chemjong, who was coming too across exposing the nets, had no answer for Sayan’s dipping shot. NRT coach Diken Suwal, who looked content with the team’s victory, said his side earned three points from a vital match.

Earlier in the day, man of the match Shiva Chaudhary gave TAC the lead in the 40th minute, utilising a cross from Bishow Bairag Samal. TAC, earlier, made several attempts but couldn’t find the back of the net. Ram Kumar Bishwas’ powerful header in the seventh minute rebounded off the bar.

Sankata striker Nirajan Malla was also close to scoring in the 11th minute but his curving shot was punched by TAC glovesman Bikash Mall. In a close encounter in 20th minute, Sankata’s Bangladeshi goalkeeper Md Nurul Karim denied a powerful shot from Hari Mahato.

TAC coach Raju Kaji Shakya said his team couldn’t carry the momentum in the second half and appreciated opponent’s performance. “We tried new players in the second half and Sankata managed to take control of the game in the second period,” said Shakya. His counterpart Chet Narayan Shrestha opined his side lost in the pace while comparing to the Armymen.

Two of the lucky winners chosen from San Miguel Fan Zone, Mina Thapa and Kumar Rana Magar gave away the man of the match awards in the first and second matches respectively.