Shankhamul Futsal claimed Nepal’s highest cash-prized Red Bull National Futsal League title with a slim 3-2 victory over Samakhushi Futsal on Saturday.

In the final match at the Chaur Recreational Centre in Bansbari, Sankhamul took an early third minute lead through Sher Bahadur Thapa. Samakhushi soon equalised through a Nabin Lama strike in the sixth minute. 

Sankhamul managed to retain the lead with an 11th minute goal from Ronil Maharjan and they gained the advantage in the match with a 22nd minute strike from Sanjog Chamling Rai. Samakhushi cut the gap through Saurav Magar in the 26th minute but the final score lines remained the same. 

The title triumph handed a cash purse of Rs one million, an amount that was never before given in any futsal tournament in the country. Runners-up Samakhushi got Rs 500,000. Former Prime Minister and CPN UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli gave away the prizes to the winners.

A total of 16 futsal teams from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur had participated in the double round robin league tournament organised by AMA Events. The teams were divided into two groups and played home and away matches with the top four teams from each side making it to the quarter-finals.