Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club defended the fifth CoAS International Women’s Football Tournament title with a battling 3-2 win over hosts Tribhuvan Army Club on Thursday.

Sabitra Bhandari, Renuka Nagarkote and skipper Sajana Rana Magar scored to hand APF the third successive title of CoAS tournament. Sapana  Lama and Krishna Khatri replied for the Army team.

Bhandari put APF ahead early in the 12th minute as she dispossessed the ball inside the danger zone before firing in for a goal. Army drew level through a 32nd minute goal from Lama, whose shot at far post for the goal.

But APF regained the lead, against through a lucky deflection three minutes before the break. Nagarkote blasted a shot from the edge of the area which deflected off a TAC defender wrong footing the goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar.

APF extended their lead immediately after the break as unmarked Rana Magar head home a corner from Manjali Yonjon. Khatri reduced the margin for TAC by pulling back th second goal in the injury time but the effort was too little and too late to affect the final outcome.

APF coach Janak Singh credited the vitory to hard work and dedication of his team. It was the second successive title for APF coach as he was also at the helm of the APF women’s football in the last edition. Ratna Kaji Majarjan was the coach when APF won the third edition.

APF skipper Sajana Rana was happy to make a winning return after a long injury layoff. Rana was declared the player of the match. Army coach Adarsha Malla said his team played under pressure throughout the game after conceding an early lead.

The champions received Rs 300,000 and the runners-up got Rs 150,000. The losing semi-finalists Nepal Police Club and Central Region also earned Rs 50,000 each. A Sikkim team, which crashed out of the first round, won the Fair Play award.

Sapana Lama of Army Club rode home a scooter after she was awarded the best player of the tournament.  APF trio Mana Maya  Limbu (defender), Anjila Subba (goalkeeper) and Janak Singh (coach) also won the individual honours. Krishna Khatri of Army club was named the best forward and her teammate Dipa Rai the best midfielder.  Sabitra Bhandari finished as the top scorer with 12 goals that earned her Rs 25,000 in rewards.