Lalitpur, December 4

Saroj Dahal and Dipesh Ale Magar scored a goal each as CMG Club Sankata defeated Nepal Police Club 2-1 in the Pulsar Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the ANFA Complex grounds today.

With their fifth win in six matches, Sankata moved to second position with 15 points. They are behind leaders Signature Manang Marshyangdi Club on inferior goal difference. NPC, who faced their third defeat, have 10 points.

Dahal put Sankata ahead in the 29th minute when the defender found the back of the nets following a corner from Laxman Ruchal. Sankata doubled the tally eight minutes later after Magar scored in an open net to complete a beautiful move. Nitin Thapa Magar snatched the ball from Tej Tamang and Dinesh Rajbanshi and passed it to Ellon Maxwell, who provided Magar with through ball and the striker dodged goalkeeper Satrughan Chaudhary before scoring the team’ second goal.

NPC pulled one back two minutes later. Ravi Paswan scored from the penalty area on a pass from Abhishek Rijal. Earlier, Bhola Thapa almost put NPC ahead in the fourth minute but his volley from the edge of the box was saved by Sankata goalkeeper Raja BabuThapa. Both the teams created opportunities in the second half but they failed to convert any.

In the day’s first match, Nepal APC Club registered a 2-1 victory over New Road Team for their second win in the league. Yubraj Khadka and Sudeep Shikhrakar scored one each for APF, while Rajesh Pariyar netted for NRT, who faced their fifth straight defeat.

The departmental side took an early lead through Khadka, who slotted home from the area following a low cross from Shyam Nepali. NRT levelled the scores in the 15th minute when Pariyar dodged APF goalkeeper Ajit Prajapati to score the equaliser after receiving a long pass from his skipper Prabin Sainju.

APF earned a spot kick in the 72nd minute and Shikhrakar converted the penalty to ensure the full three points for the team. They earned the penalty after NRT’s substitute player Asim Gurung brought down Yubraj Khadka inside the danger zone. With the win, APF accumulated seven points from six matches, while NRT are at the bottom of the 14-team league with just one point.