Earlier, Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) also made a winning start with an identical scoreline over Sankata Kathmandu Mall Club. [break]
Three Star created a few good chances but were able to convert one.
The lone goal of the match was scored by French midfielder Jocelyn Morgan in the 74th minute. He netted a quick one from close range on a pass supplied by Bijay Gurung. Jocelyn was awarded man-of-the-match.
"Had we been able to utilize opportunities we could have taken lead in the first half," RCT coach Madhu Karki said, adding that luck was against them.
Karki was referring to Dipak Rai´s left footed shot from the edge of the box in the 33rd minute that was brilliantly punched away by custodian Kiran Chemjong.
Similarly, RCT were unlucky three minutes after the break when Santosh Gurung´s powerful freekick from 25 yards hit the pole.
Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan praised the opponents´ performance. "This performance will not be sufficient for us to win the title," he said, while being optimistic that the team would be set in the later matches.
Earlier, a lone goal from Ganesh Khadka helped MMC, which came up with four Korean players, earn full points against Sankata. Ganesh scored from the box on a pass set by Korean midfielder Lee Ji Hoon. Lee had collected a punched ball from Sankata´s Bangladeshi goalie Nurul Karim, who tried to clear Jagjeet Shrestha´s shot.
The Korean players, including two strikers, a midfielder and a defender, failed to show the magic expected from them. MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang said that the Koreans failed to show the expected performance due to lack of understanding with Nepali teammates.
"The difference in climatic conditions has also hampered their performance," he added.
In the 11th minute, MMC goalie Bishal Shrestha made a spectacular dive to save Sudip Shikhrakar´s shot off a corner taken by skipper Kailash Dangol.
In the injury time of first half, Niran Remi Magar´s powerful long range shot was brilliantly dived and punched by goalie Nurul.
Sankata coach Chet Narayan Shrestha who is looking after the first division team for the first time was dissatisfied with the strikers´ performance. "The strikers failed to utilize chances, but overall we played better than the opponents," Shrestha said.
Coach sent off
Referee Bikash Mahat sent off Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) coach Baiju Nath Kapali from the players´ box during their match against Nabil Three Star Club.
Kapali was sent off after he picked up an argument with the referee demanding card to Bijay Gurung of Three Star after he fouled RCT custodian Dilip Chhetri. The referee had awarded foul against the offense of Bijay.
The match was interrupted for about three minutes after Kapali refused to leave the players´ box.
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