Shining Stars! Three Star win league title  (July 18)

Three Star Club held Police Club 0 – 0 to win the Martyrs Memorial “A” division league 2061. The Sunday clash between the two heavyweights of Nepalese football brought about 20,000 fans to the stadium and the scenes were spectacular. The stadium was full after many years and last time the stadium was full was in 1999 SAF football championship final between Nepal and Bangladesh. 

Police club needed an outright victory, while Three Star Club needed only a draw to win the league title. It was Three Star which came out strong. Even the physical ability of the Police players couldn’t stop the skilful Three Star youngsters. The game was the game of missed chances. The highlight of the match was the penalty miss by the league's best defender Lok Bhandu Gurung. His spot kick was saved by Police custodian Ritesh Thapa. Three Star were awarded penalty after the Police defenders brought down Surendra Tamang in the Penalty Box. And just before the break in the 45^th minute Jumanu Rai of Police club missed the easiest chance of this lifetime after he shot wide from inside the 6 yard box on an empty net as the Three Star custodian Upendra Man Singh was already beaten. 

It stayed 0 – 0 going into halftime and after the break it was Three Star that came out the stronger side. They missed 3 clear goal scoring chances within  5 minutes after the break. It was not the Police Clubs day as they failed to mount any credible attacks. They hardly attack in the second half as the fast and young Three Star Players keep them at bay. 

So Three Star holds Police Club 0 – 0  to win the Martyrs Memorial League “A” division in 2061. Police are the runners up for the second year in a row in their second appearance in the Martyrs League. (Dinesh Thapa)

Score : TSC 0 – 0 MPC
Possession: TSC (60%) MPC (40%)
Man of the match: Bijay Gurung (TSC) 

The Prizes 

1. League Champion : Three Star Club (Martyrs League Champions Trophy + Rs. 500,000)

2. Runners Up : Mahendra Police Club (Martyrs League Runners Up Trophy + Rs. 300,000)

3. Third Place : Manang Marsyangdi Club ( Rs. 200,000)

4. Fourth Place: Tribhuvan Army Club (Rs. 100,000)

Individual Prizes 

• Fair Play : Friends Club (Fair play trophy + Rs. 50,000)

• Highest Scorer : Basanta Thapa (MMC) Yamaha LIBERO motorcycle

• Best Striker : Surendra Tamang (TSC) Yamaha LIBERO motorcycle

• Best Defender : Lok Bandu Gurung (TSC) Yamaha LIBERO motorcycle

• Best Midfielder: Pradip Maharjan (TSC) Yamaha LIBERO motorcycle

• Best Goalkeeper: Bikash Malla (JYC) Yamaha LIBERO motorcycle

• Best Coach: Dhruba KC (TSC) Yamaha LIBERO motorcycle

Friends grab fifth spot  (July 17)

Friends Club beat JYC by 2-1 in the muddy and watery Dasharath Rangasala. This was the last match for both the teams in the 2061 league. Friends after advancing to the Super Six just had one win in 5 matches, while JYC failed to earn even a single point.

Subash Lama provided 1-0 lead to Friends at 57 minutes but JYC equalizes through Dibas Rai at 60 minutes. Birat Thapa scored winning goal for Friends at 67 minutes and won the match by 2-1. (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: FC 2 – 1 JYC 
Scorer: Subash Lama, Birat Thapa (FC) Dibas Rai (JYC)
Possession: FC (50%) JYC (50%)
Man of the match:  Birat Thapa

MPC keep title hopes alive  (July 15)

Mahendra Police Club twice came from behind for a 2-2 draw against Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) to keep their title hopes alive in the Martyrs’ Memorial Everest ‘A’ Division League football tournament here today. Now the policemen are three points behind leaders Three Star Club (40). Three Star and MPC will play in the title-decider on Sunday.

Rajesh Shahi and Basant Thapa contributed one goal each for their team MMC. With this the total number of goals scored by striker Thapa in the league has reached 20. Similarly, Dev Narayan Chaudhary and Jumunu Rai scored each goal from MPC in the league.

The match was very competitive as MMC only play for pride and they had dream start. But Jumanu Rai scored the goal for MPC which keep them in contention for their first ever martyrs league title. The game between MPC and TSC will be the cracker on July 18. Draw or win will see TSC lifting the title and win for MPC means that both teams will be on equal points with the goal difference being the deciding factor. (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: MMC 2 – 2 MPC
Scorers: Rajesh Shahi, Basanta Thapa (MMC) Jumanu Rai, Dev Narayan Chaudhari (MPC)
Possession: MMC (50%) MPC (50%)
Man of the match: Rajesh Shahi

Stars squeak by Army  (July 14)

Three Star Club (TSC) earned three valuable points as it defeated rival Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) by a solitary goal. The match was very competitive as Army held the TSC strkers until the 74th minute. But Surendra scored only goal of the match in the 75th minute. With the win, TSC maintained its unbeaten run in the league tournament and are 4 points ahead of title contenders Mahendra Police Club (MPC). 

Bad refreeing decision continues in the league as Shiva Chaudhary (TAC) kicked Santosh Shrestha (TSC) intentionally and the referee didn’t take any action against the TAC player. TSC totally outclassed TAC in the game and they could have won by a handsome margin but Santosh Sahukala the U16 youth team striker had nightmares in front of the goal.

Police will take on MMC  tomorrow and need at least a point to challenge for the title. If the succeed, the last match of the league TSC vs MPC will be cracker.  (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: TSC 1 – 0 TAC
Scorers: Surendra Tamang (TSC)
Possession: TSC (60%) TAC (40%)
Man of the match: Pradeep Dongol (TSC)

Basanta runs riot in Super Six Sham  (July 12)

In a despicable display of gamesmanship, Friends Club made a mockery of the Super Six allowing Basanta Thapa to score at will against them. Thapa decided that six goals would do for the day and he has pretty much cemented himself as the top scorer of this year's League.

This is at least the second time Friends Club decided to fold in Super Six play. League leaders Three Star were also given an opportunity to script the scoreline against the shameful Kupondole side.  (Biplav Gautam)

Score: MMC 7 - 0 FC
Scorers: Basanta Thapa (6) Milan Tamang (1) MMC
Possession: MMC (60%) FC (40%)
Man of the match: Rajesh Shahi (MMC)

Army back on track  (July 11)

Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) defeated Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) by three goals to one.

Raju Tamang of TAC opened the account in the 4th minute while Bishwo Bairag Samal and Shiva Chaudhari netted apiece in the 26th and 74th minute. JYC’s Meg Raj KC scored a consolation goal for his team in the 72nd minute.

With the win, TAC moved to the third spot in the league table with 31 points though they are already out of league title battle. (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: TAC 3 – 1 JYC
Scorers: Megh Raj KC (JYC) Shiva Chaudhari (2), Bishwo Bairaf samal (TAC)
Possession: TAC (60%) JYC (40%)
Man of the match: Shiva Chaudhari (TAC)

MMC cruise to victory (July 9)

Defending champion Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) registered a comfortable 3-1 victory over Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC)

MMC’s Rajan Rayamajhi scored twice in the 33rd and 51st minute while Tashi Tshering netted one in the 90th minute. Rojit KC scored the consolation for JYC. (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: MMC 3 – 1 JYC
Scorers: Rajan Rayamajhi (2), Tashi Chirring (MMC) Rojit KC (JYC
Possession: JYC (25%) MMC (75%)
Man of the match: Rajesh Shahi (MMC)

Police overrule Army (July 8)

Mahendra Police Club (MPC) came from a goal down to beat Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) by two goals to one. With the win, MPC earned three valuable points and are now just a point behind league leader Three Star Club.

It was Hari Mahato of TAC who put his team in front by scoring a goal in the 40th minute. MPC’s Ananta Thapa equalized the score in the 77th minute while Ramesh Budathoki netted one in the 80th minute.  (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: MPC 2 – 1 TAC
Scorers: Hari Mahato (TAC) Ananta Thapa, Ramesh Budhathoki (MPC)
Possession: TAC (50%) MPC (50%)
Man of the match: Ananta Thapa (MPC)

Big bang comeback for Three Star (July 6)

Three Star Club (TSC) made a superb comeback and held defending champion Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) to a 2-2 draw. TSC in today's match fought back from two goals behind to retain their unbeaten record in the tournament and forced MMC to share a point each.

MMC took the lead in the 35th minute through Basanta Thapa's strike. Within a minute Khum Gurung added one more for the team.

Trailing by two goals, TSC desperately tried to find the MMC's net in the second half. Finally Surendra Tamang broke the deadlock for TSC in the 60th minute.  Janak Singh then netted a goal in the remaining 4 minutes of the match. (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: MMC 2 – 2 TSC
Scorers: Basanta Thapa, Khum Gurung (MMC) Surendra Tamang, Janak Singh (TSC)
Possession: TSC (50%) MMC (50%)
Man of the match: Janak Singh (TSC)

Friends Club surrenders to Army (July 5)

Tribhuwan Army Club (TAC) outplayed Friends Club (FC) by three goals to one.

TAC’s Chakra Tamang, Shiva Chaudhary and Ram Kumar Biswash scored a piece in the match, while Rabin Byanjankar of Friends Club contributed one goal for his team today.

With the win, Army Club holds the third position in the league table with 28 points.

Although FC gave some resistance to TAC, ultimately the physical ability of the Army men was too much for FC to hold off. (Dinesh Thapa)  

Score: TAC 3 – 1 FC
Scorers: Chakra Tamang, Shiva Chaudhari, Ram Kumar Biswas (TAC) Rabin Byanjankar (FC)
Possession: TAC (40%) FC (60%)
Man of the match: Shiva Chaudhari (TAC)

Police trash Jawlakhel Youth (July 3)

Mahendra Police Club (MPC) registered an impressive 4-0 win over Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC). All the goals were scored in the first half of the match.

MPC opened the account within two minutes of the play-off match through Parbat Pandey’s strike. Ramesh Budathoki struck twice in the 21st and 35th minute while Kishor Subba netted one in the 43rd minute.

With 33 points, MPC is in the second position in the league table. This win certainly puts pressure back on Three Star who leads the table by 3 points over MPC. (Dinesh Thapa)

Score: MPC 4 – 0 JYC
Scorers: Parbat Pandey, Ramesh Budhathoki (2), Kishor Subba
Possession: JYC (40%) MPC (60%)
Man of the match: Parbat Pandey (MPC)

Stars align for TSC (Friends put on shameful display) (July 2)

Dasharath Rangasala was abuzz with rumors of foul play after Friends Club (FC) completely changed tactics in the second half and gave up 7 goals in quick succession to Three Star Club (TSC) after having a 1 - 0 lead going into halftime. It was a truly a disgraceful display by Friend’s Club. They played a very unorthodox attacking style that allowed TSC to score at leisure. 

FC took the lead in the game after Deepak Khabash scored for the team in the 45th minute.  After the break it was shooting practice for TSC. Pradip Maharjan leveled the match in the 56th minute.

Bishan Gauchan struck twice in the 73rd and 75 minutes while Surendra Tamang scored four goals in the 74th, 78th, 83rd and 91st minute respectively putting him firmly in place to win the keys to the Libero motorbikes.

FC’s Khabash added one more consolation for FC in the 88th minute. Pradip Dongol will miss the next game against MMC after picking up a yellow card. (Biplav Gautam/Dinesh Thapa) 

Score: FC 2 – 7 TAC
Scorers: Deepak Khawas (2)(FC); Pradip Maharjan, Bishan Gauchan (2), Surendra Tamang (4) (TAC)
Possession: FC (40%) TAC (60%)
Man of the match: Surendra Tamang (TAC)
Yellow Card: Pradip Dongol, Santosh Sahukhala (TAC)

Army holds champions in a tension filled match (July 1)

Defending champions Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) shared a point each in their first game of the Super Six.

The draw made it virtually impossible for MMC to retain their title and for TAC to win the championship in their first season of Martyr's League play..

Basanta Thapa missed half dozen chances to win the game for MMC. The game was interrupted after Army’s Hari Mahato's goal in the  81st minute was disallowed. There was a clear foul by him right on the goal line and match referee Gyani Raja Shakya showed a yellow card for that, but the Army players still protested for a goal.

Army fans then broke the stadium barrier and threw  bottles and bricks towards the pitch. About 100 seats of the stadium were broken and tossed. Even the Army personal in uniform were getting into the act. MMC goalkeeper Binod Dangol had to run away from the goal post to protect himself from injury. There was no security to be found. The police officers at the stadium did not dare go to the stands to control the ferocity.

The Army fans became more violent after ANFA president Ganesh Thapa threatened to "take action" if they did not stop their unsporting behaviour immediately. An annoyed Thapa said: “The stadium is for football and it needs discipline from the spectators. Rowdiness leads to destruction and football can never be developed this way. If such activities are not stopped immediately, we will bring the match to an end”. 

When the game finally was restarted, Basanta Thapa came close to scoring, but the match eventually ended in a 0 - 0 draw. (Dinesh Thapa)  

Score: MMC 0 – 0 TAC
Possession: MMC (60%) TAC (40%)
Man of the match: Rajesh Shahi (MMC)
Yellow Card: Janamat Karki [25 mins]  Hari Mahatto [81mins]

Police Fire Friends (June 30)

Mahendra Police Club (MPC) thrashed Friends Club (FC) by three goals in the second match of Super Six. Even without the injured striker Hari Khadka, the police side was far better than the boys from Kupondole.

MPC took charge of the game right from the beginning and there was no looking back. MPC’s Rajendra Shrestha put the team in front within the 8th minute of the game and Ramesh Budathoki and Ananta Thapa scored in the 42nd and 68th minute respectively.

MPC took total control of the game from the start. Rajendra Shrestha played brilliantly in place of Hari Khadka.

Score: MPC 3 – 0 FC
Scorers: Rajendra Shrestha, Ramesh Budhathoki, Ananta Thapa
Possession: MPC (75%) FC (25%)
Man of the match: Rajendra Shrestha (MPC)

Three Star too bright for Jawlakhel (June 29)

The rivalry between the TSC and JYC continues in the super six.  TSC the first stage champions of the League took on their neighbors in the opening match of the Super Six. 

TSC were missing their influential midfielder Bijay Gurung because of his red card in TSC's previous match. The game started slowly, but TSC eventually showed their championship form. Surendra Tamang was on fire throughout the game. The first real attack of the game came on the 21st minute of the game when Surendra Tamang unleashed a powerful shot form outside the box and was saved brilliantly by Bikash Malla. Jeevan Sinkeman was on hand to head the rebound but Malla was on the right position to stop the ball from going to the net. Only attack for JYC in the first half was by Bikash Subba and his shot was saved by Upendra Man Singh.  

It was 0 – 0 at half time. Bishan Gauchan put through ball to Surandra Tamang but the national striker shot wide and wasted a golden opportunity. But Surendra opened the account for TSC in the 68th minute. The goal was brilliant solo effort. He dribbled pass four defenders to score the brilliant goal. Malla tried to save the shot but the placement of Surendra was so perfect that he couldn’t reach the ball. Surendra doubled the lead in the 87th minute to kill off the game. And the second goal was a photocopy of the first goal. 

With this win TSC now have 33 points and move one step closer to lifting the title. This win by TSC puts massive pressure on the Police team, which will play Friends Club in the second game of Super Six. 

Score: JYC 0 - 2 TSC
Scorer: Surendra Tamang
Possession: TSC (70%), JYC (30%)
Man of the Match: Surendra Tamang (TSC)
Yellow Card: Ramesh Sinkeman (TSC), Sanoj Shrestha (JYC)