Lumbini Football Club and Sankata registered wins in the Lalit Memorial Under-18 Championship here at the Anfa Complex in Satdobato on Sunday.

Lumbini, who finished as runners-up in the last edition, beat New Road Team (NRT) 2-0 and Sankata also saw off Morang 2-0.

Ajit Thapa put Lumbini ahead early in the 26th minute for Lumbini before Anup Gurung added the second in the 55th minute.

Lumbini coach Bikash Gurung said his players found it hard playing at the artificial turf (Astros-turf) but gained momentum as the game progressed. NRT coach Maheshwor Mulmi resorted to blaming “the lack of playing space in Kathmandu” for his team’s defeat.

“Like most of the club in Kathmandu barring the departmental teams, we could only train for two weeks due to the lack of training grounds,” said Mulmi.

Dipesh Ale Magar scored both the goals for Sankata in the day’s another match  in their 2-0 win over Morang despite playing with a man down.

Ale Magar opened the scoring in the 10th minute and added the second in the 65th minute. Sankata were reduced to 10 men as Sakal Regmi was sent off in the 41st minute.

Sankata coach Sagun Tandukar credited the victory to the battling performance of his team.

“We scored early but then lost our skipper but still managed to pull off the victory,” said Tandukar.