Satdobato Youth Club got the better of Jhamsikhel Youth Club 2-1 while Tushal Youth Club hammered Khumaltar Youth Club 7-2 in the Martyrs Memorial ‘B’ Division League at the ANFA complex in Satdobato on Friday.

The result means Satdobato remained the table-toppers in Group ‘B’ with seven points from three matches while Jhamsikhel are one position behind with four points from three games. The Satdobato defence seemed rattled early on, conceding two corners and one freekick just in the first ten minutes. Fortunately for the winning team, the opportunities didn’t prove to be costly. But Jhamsikhel eventually took the lead in the 20th minute as the jumping Satdobato goalie Sanam Rai couldn’t get a hand on Man Kumar Rai’s shot at goal from inside the box.

Satdobato failed to capitalize on their half-chances too, with a Prabesh Basnet freekick in the 24th minute from 15 yards or so from the danger zone that the striker couldn’t connect properly. Just five minutes after the break, Prithvi Chaudhary took the penalty kick that was awarded after Sunil Shahi tripped Bhuwan Basnet and slotted in the equalizer for his side Satdobato.

Satdobato had a chance to add to their tally in the 71st minute, only for freekick taker Ujjwal Shahi to strike the ball well beyond the post from a few yards from the area. In the 87th minute, Satdobato got their second penalty of the game courtesy a foul committed by Manish Khadka on Bhuwan Basnet, who stepped in and struck the winning goal in his side’s just second shot on target throughout the match.

In another match of the day, Alon Rai struck the first hat-trick of the league, Manish Sedai added a brace while Karan Rawat and Sashil Kumar Thapa scored one each for Tushal. Sabin KC and Arun Shrestha replied for Khumaltar. Sedai opened the scoring in the 16th minute and Rai doubled their tally deep into the first half stoppage time. Tushal added five more goals after the break starting with a 59th minute strike from Rawat.

Rai added his second goal of the game in the 73rd minute before completing his hat-trick just a minute later. In between Sedai also struck his second goal in the 6st minute before Thapa completed the rout with the seventh goal for Tushal. KC pulled back one for Khumaltar in the 53rd and Shrestha reduced the deficits in the 90th minute.

Tushal leapfrogged Pulchowk into top of the Group ‘B’ standings with seven points from three matches. Pulchowk have, however, played a game less and have six points. Khumaltar are rooted at the bottom of the six-team pool after their three successive defeats.