From three matches, unbeaten TSC has seven points with two wins and a draw. Nevertheless, Manang Marshyangdi Club, which has a match in hand, could reach the summit if it wins its upcoming match and establish two-point advantage over TSC.
TAC climbed one spot above at third with five points, one point ahead of Armed Police Force APF which has a match advantage over TAC.TSC was reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when striker Santosh Sahukhala was given marching orders by referee Sudish Pandey after the former had sent TAC goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu into seething pain with a sliding tackle on his chest in his desperation to catch up with Yudha Shahi's back pass to the goalie.
TAC coach Meghraj KC said that playing with one man advantage did not made big impact in the match. "Losing one man, normally, does not make striking difference in the game. We have won some finals playing with a man down. TSC was cautious though after Santosh's red card. It showed a more balanced game after that. We could have won the match though," he said.
"Our opponent is also one of the contenders. So, I would rather say it was a competitive match. "
TSC coach Anjan KC confessed that his team made a slow start but it never gave up despite playing with a man down.
"Our coordination was not good in the first half. But we never gave up and put up a labored effort. We created opportunities and could have won the match had we not denied by a bar in the dying moment," he said.
Following a barren evenly contested first half, the match came to life in the second half after Santosh's sending off. Playing a safe approach, TSC went into attack against run of play.
TAC was denied lead in the 62nd minute when Tanka Basnet sent a scorcher from outside the box and Nawayug Shrestha failed to capitalize on the rebound off the woodwork.
TSC's skipper Sagar Thapa's diving header from close range off Jagajeet Shrestha's cross whisked past the post two minutes later.
Three Star's Peter was unfortunate to be denied by a crossbar in the first minute of the second half added time which he had fired with precision after Nirajan Khadka had supplied in a lofty corner for TSC.
TAC went all attack against the run of play a minute later, spearheaded by Bharat Khawas but Yudha saw his effort sailing above the bar.
Bikram Lama's well-placed off Nirajan's header was brilliantly cleared by Hiranya Magar from the goalline in the sixth minute of added time and TSC settled for a draw.
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