Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) eased past Simrik Saraswoti Youth Club 2-0 to stretch their lead on top to five points in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League here at the Dashrath Stadium on Monday.

Shiva Shrestha opened the scoring in the 37th minute while Yona Elias doubled MMC’s lead six minutes later for their third consecutive win. With 22 points from nine games, MMC now lead second placed Laxmi Bank Three Star Club by five points while third placed Nepal Police Club remain seven points behind the leaders. Saraswoti remain in 10th with 10 points from nine matches.

MMC signalled their intentions early in the game with Anil Gurung’s venomous long-range strike stinging the palms of Saraswoti custodian Ashok Baral in the third minute. Gurung again came close to scoring when his outstretched leg inside the area could not guide Elias’s low cross towards the goal in the 25th minute. MMC eventually took the lead in the 37th minute when Shiva expertly controlled Elias’s cross inside the box and coolly guided the ball home.

Elias got on the scoresheet next after he tapped in Gurung’s powerful cross from close range six minutes later. The influential Gurung cleverly dribbled past Saraswoti defender Bobby Ogolla Odongo on the left flank and drilled a low cross inside the area providing an easy tap-in for his strike-partner Elias at the far post.

MMC then switched to defense gears to protect their two-goal advantage rather than going for more goals. “We adapted a cautious approach after the interval. Few of our players are already carrying yellow and it was important that they saw the game through without taking many risks,” explained MMC coach Hari Om Shrestha.

MMC however created a few opportunities to increase the margin of their win. Saraswoti goalkeeper Baral acrobatically punched away Captain Sagar Thapa’s 30-yard freekick in the 75th minute while Baral made a smart save to divert Sunil BK’s left-footed shot inside the area three minutes later. Forward Gurung again came close to scoring when his powerful strike from the edge of the area forced Baral to produce a sublime save in the 88th minute.

“We could have scored more but I am satisfied with the performance. We now have a lead of five points but it is important to approach our remaining games with a winning mentality,” added the MMC coach. Saraswoti coach Ashok KC was disappointed with his team’s performance and urged them to improve on their upcoming games.

Earlier, bottom-placed Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) stunned Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) 2-1, the result putting on hold their relegation with two games remaining. Even a draw with TAC would have condemned the six-times champions to B Division for the first time in 81 years.

Dona Thapa’s well-taken goal put RCT ahead in the 64th minute while Subin Shrestha doubled RCT’s lead in the 75th minute.

Jitendra Karki scored from the spot to make the score 2-1 but RCT managed to hold on to their second win from nine games. RCT have four points from 10 games but still remain at the bottom of the table while TAC are in eight with 11 points from 10 matches.