Sankata, APF clinch victories

KATHMANDU: CMG Sankata Club and Armed Police Force (APF) Club have secured victories during their Pulsar Martyr's Memorial 'A' Division League in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

CMG Sankata defeated Nepal Police Club 2-1 and APF beat New Road Team (NRT) by the same margin today. With today's win, Sankata climbed to second in the table on 15 points from six matches behind Manang Marsyangdi Club in the 14-team table.

Likewise, AFP defeated the bottom team NRT and moved to seventh after registering two wins from six matches on seven points.

Saroj Dahal put Sankata in front with a sublime header courtesy of a corner kick in the 28th minute. Dipesh Ale Magar made a surging run forward and beat the goalie in a one-on-one situation before slotting the ball home in an unguarded net in the 37th minute.

Magar was put through on goal by his teammate after NPC lost the ball in the heart of midfield at the ANFA ground. However, after two minutes, NPC's Ravi Shankar Paswan drilled in a left-footed shot into the top left corner to reduce the arrears.

After resumption, both the teams played an attacking game but failed to score goals. The in-form Sankata Club held on to clinch a valuable and important three points.

In another game of the day, APF's Yuvraj Khadka scored in the 3rd minute before NRT's Rajesh Pariyar equalised in the 15th minute of the game.

NRT, without a win in the campaign, pressed hard in the second half but to no avail. However, they conceded a penalty in the 72nd minute after hauling APF striker Yuvraj Khadka inside the area, at the ANFA Complex ground in Satdobato, Lalitpur.

Sudip Shikhakar stepped up to take the resulting penalty kick and coolly slotted the ball home to give AFP their second win of the campaign.

Meanwhile, MMC leads the 14-team table on 15 points from five matches and NRT languishes on the bottom of the table without any win in the tournament.