Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club cruised to a 3-0 win over departmental archrivals Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the Red Bull National League here at Anfa Complex on Friday.

Top Bahadur Bista struck twice and skipper Ganesh Lawati added the another to inflict yet another defeat on the depleted NPC. It was the seventh loss of the NPC in 13 matches. While the win lifted APF to fourth in the standings with 20 points from 11 games, NPC remained in seventh place with 12 points from 13 games.

Bista opened the scoring early in the 10th minute, racing in to meet a pass from Heman Gurung inside the area and firing past NPC custodian Roshan Khadka. Bista doubled the tally two minutes after resumption, exchanging passes with Jangbu Sherpa and shooting into the net. APF skipper Lawati ended any remaining NPC comeback hopes by scoring the third in the 77th minute. Shyam Nepali teed it up for Navin Lama at the edge of the area who in turned released the ball at the far side for Lawati to head home from close range.

APF coach Krishna Thapa still believed in his team’s chances of winning the title. “If we win against Manang (Marshyangdi Club), we will be back in contention for the title,” said Thapa. He also rued the absence of the injured forward Ranjan Bista and his younger brother Anjan. Anjan is in Iran to play the AFC U-19 Championship Qualifiers.

Thapa’s NPC counterpart Birat Krishna Shrestha termed the performance of his team as the worst of the season. “We are literally playing with second string players so far and I cannot blame this set of players for the performance,” said Shrestha. “We may be out of the title race but the arrival of three players from injury will add spice to the league,” added the NPC coach. “Our games in the later stages will be vital for the title chasing sides,” said Shrestha.

One match ban  on Thapa, KC

LALITPUR: Three Star Club skipper Sagar Thapa and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) coach Megh Raj KC were on Friday slapped with one match ban for foul mouth tirade on referee Shrawan Lama during the National League.

An Anfa disciplinary committee imposed the ban based on the reports of the match commissioner, referee assessor and the referee in-charge of the Three Star vs TAC match on Thursday. The committee has also commenced an internal punishment on Lama as well.

The reports found that Thapa had verbally abused Lama in the 79th minute. KC was found to follow Thapa’s suit by mocking the referee during the press conference. Both Thapa and KC have been asked to furnish explanations on their behaviours by October 5.

While KC will be barred from the touch line for their match against Morang, Thapa will be out of two matches against Lumbini and Jhapa. Thapa will serve an additional one match ban for accumulating two yellow cards.