Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, January 26:

Sano Gaucharan Youth Club held league leaders Bouddha Football Club 2-2 and Naxal Youth Association and Kalika Mahabir Club played a 1-1 draw in the Martyrs’ Memorial ‘B’ Division League Football Tournament here at Dasharath Stadium today.

Bouddha lead the standings with 13 points while Sano Gaucharan have seven points. Naxal and Kalika Mahabir have two points each. Machhindra Bahal Club are at the second spot with 12 points.

Sano Gaucharan took lead through Deepak Giri in the 53rd minute when he found the net following Lil Bahadur Rai’s corner kick. In the 69th minute, Giri doubled the tally with a header following Santosh Shrestha’s free kick.

The league leaders Bouddha had to wait for 71 minutes to reduce the margin through Binod Gurung, who dodged as many as two defenders inside the D-Box before firing the ball into the net. Naveen Baniya scored the equaliser in the 83rd minute following Digvijay Khadka’s free kick.

In the second match, Neeraj Dangol gave Naxal early lead in the 12th minute when he netted the ball from inside the D-Box.

Sanjeev Subba scored the equaliser for Kalika Mahabir Club in the 74th minute. Subba controlled a cross from Ashta Ratna Bajracharya and fired the ball home from eight yards leaving Naxal Club goalkeeper Shambhu Shrestha stranded.

Pravin Thapa of Sano Gaucharan, Bijay Gautam of Bouddha, Ashta Ratna Bajracharya and Ashok Rai of Naxal Youth Association and Krishan Lama and Rajendra Deula of Kalika Mahabir were cautioned with yellow cards during their matches.