Three Star Club missed out on a chance to overtake Jhapa in the top of Red Bull National League standings after playing a 1-1 draw with Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) here at Anfa Complex on Thursday.

The draw meant Three Star remained at the second spot with 23 points from 12 matches. With one match in hand they trail leaders Jhapa, who have played 13 matches, by one point. TAC also remained unchanged third in the standings with 21 points from 12 games. MMC, who have one match in hand, are fourth with 19 points.

Tek Bahadur Budhathoki put the Armymen ahead in the 25th minute with a powerful volley before a deflected freekick from Sagar Thapa in the 38th levelled the scores. Three Star missed as many as three scoring chances to settle for a share of the spoils.

It was the Armymen who set the tone first and looked threatening to score. Nawayug Shrestha was close to put the departmental team ahead from the goalline but failed to guide an air ball into the net. The goal came close to half hour mark in a counter attack move when Deepak Gurung set another long ball at the goal-mouth for Shrestha.

Although Shrestha missed the ball, a charging Budhathoki smashed a powerful volley leaving Three Star goalie Kiran Chemjong completely stunned. Three Star hit back soon after referee Shrawan Lama awarded Three Star a freekick when Bharat Khawas tripped Bikram Limbu.

Skipper Sagar took the freekick and although TAC custodian Bikesh Kuthu had rightly judged the movement of the ball, it changed the direction after hitting the TAC wall before entering the net.

While TAC failed to penetrate the Three Star defense in the second half despite making some good moves, their opponents kept on firing from the other end but were denied on all occasions. Kuthu kept Three Star at bay denying Olawale Afeez in the 52nd minute before blocking another powerful shot from Santosh Sahukhala in the 77th.

Two minutes later, Afeez was close to hand Three Star the lead but his shot from the area missed the target by few inches. TAC coach Megh Raj KC said they were unfortunate not to take all points. “We played well throughout the game but no one can help if we concede goal from a deflection,” said KC adding they still are in the title hunt. “The 75 percent of the League is completed and there are still 25 percent left. Everything depends on us now. If we make sure that we win the remaining matches, we can still claim the title,” added the coach.

Three Star coach Rajendra Tamang admitted his side is now under pressure to deliver. “We have tough fixtures ahead and even a draw could throw us out of the title race. We are under pressure to win all of our remaining matches,” said Tamang.