A second half hat-trick from Nepali international Santosh Sahukhala inspired Three Star to 4-1 win at Morang FC as the visiting side bounced back from a goal deficit and leapfrogged two spots to top of the standings. With the hat-trick, Santosh also took his league tally to 104.Similarly, little know Binod Karki netted thrice for Police at the ANFA ground, Satdobato, in its 4-1 win over Lumbini FC. It was the first victory of Police after five matches in the league. Earlier, MMC registered a thumping 6-0 win over Far Western Football Club (FWFC) at the same venue after second half substitute Deepak Rai netted a brace.
The result lifted third-placed Three Star to top with 19 points from 10 matches, three points ahead of fourth-placed MMC which has a match advantage over the leader. Police, however, remains steady on the seventh place with 12 points after playing 10 matches. FWFC is sixth with 14 points while Morang hit bottom of the table with six points as both teams played their 12th match of the league campaign.
At Laxmi Marga, Morang, Tek Bahadur Limbu put the home team ahead in the 27th minute against the run of play. Three Star's African recruit Olawala A Afeez restored parity in the stoppage time of the first half after being set by Santosh.
Santosh netted the second for Three Star in the 77th from the spot after he was fouled in the danger zone by Niraj Basnet. He made it 3-1 in the 90th minute after his curling freekick found the back of the net. He then sealed the victory and completed his hat-trickt in the stoppage time again through a penalty. Referee Sudish Pandey awarded the penalty to Three Star after Jagajeet Shrestha was fouled inside the area.
In the day's first match at Satdobato, Rupesh KC, Bishal Rai, Leonce Dodoz and skipper Anil Gurung netted one goal each for MMC apart from a second half brace from Deepak in its thumping win over FWFC.
FWFC coach Kiran Shrestha however said the outcome was expected. "We could not field our first-choice defender and goalkeeper due to their ill health," said Shrestha, adding that striker Bimal Gharti Magar was also ill.
"Thus we had anticipated the match to be a tough nut to crack. Custodian Dev Gurung made his debut in the match. It is natural for an immature goalie to face pressure to play against a giant team like MMC."
Rupesh opened the scoring in the 27th for MMC and Bishal doubled the tally 10 minutes later. Leonce netted another goal in the injury time of the first half as MMC went into break with a three-goal lead. Skipper Anil made it 4-0 in the 55th minute. Deepak, a 56th minute replacement of Sushil KC, found the target in the 63rd and stoppage time of the match.
MMC coach Raju Kaji Shakya said that his team was under pressure to win. He however said that the victory margin was bigger than his expectation.
In the day's late match at the same venue, Binod Karki netted in the 30th, 43rd and 54 minutes to complete his hat-trick in Police's win over Lumbini FC. He also became the fifth played to achieve hat-trick in the league. Bharat Shah netted another in the 45th. Police goalkeeper gifted a consolation goal to Lumbini with an own goal in the 50th minute.
Meanwhile, the other match of the day scheduled between Jhapa and Tribhuvan Army Club has been postponed for Friday owing to downpour.
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