Jhapa maintained a two-point lead over Three Star Club in the Red Bull National League after both teams recorded wins on Sunday.

Hosting NPC in Surunga, Jhapa won through a brace from Karna Limbu to top the standings with 24 points from 13 games. Limbu struck late on either halves to disappoint the depleted departmental team. NPC remained on seventh with 12 points in the nine-team standings. Limbu put Jhapa ahead in the 4st minute and sealed their victory with another goal in the 82nd minute.

At the Anfa complex in Satdobato, Three Star laboured to a 1-0 victory over Far Western FC thanks to the 13th minute goal from striker Olawale Afeez. The victory took the Lalitpur-based outfit to within two points of the leaders. Jhapa, however, have played two games more than Three Star. Afeez won the ball, exchanged a couple of passes before blasting a shot that rolled between the legs of Far West custodian Birendra Chand.

The Lalitpur team survived some nervous moments after failing to kill the match. Santosh Sahukhala shot off target early in the 2nd minute and the Three Star forward was denied by the woodwork two minute before break. Segun Eyitayo also missed out on adding to the Three Star tally when his attempt on goal was cleared from goalline in the 69th minute.

Far West too had their chances, notably early in the third minute when Shiva Subedi cut past a defender but shot wildly out. The national team forward and U-19 skipper Bimal Gharti Magar missed a sitter in the 42nd minute. Fed by Dinesh Rajbanshi inside the area, Gharti Magar failed to beat Three Star goalie Kiran Chemjong in a solitary encounter. Chemjong again helped Three protect their lead by punching out a goal-bound Gharti Magar freekick in the 57th minute.

Three Star coach Rajendra Tamang said the “attitude” problem of some of his players could be fatal. “We earned all three points but we still need to improve as a team,” said Tamang. “We have quality players in the squad but they failed to link up as a unit.”

Far West coach Kiran Shrestha had no complaint against his boys. “Our boys came up with a much better display against the tough side like Three Star,” said Shrestha. “Only a minor error cost us the match. We played well but we still have margins of improvement.”