Second-half goals from Nawayug Shrestha and Santosh Tamang helped Tribhuvan Army to a 2-0 win over Three Star in their Martyrs Memorial 'A' Division League match at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Wednesday.

The win puts the departmental side third in the standings, ending Three Star Club's unbeaten run in the domestic top flight. Four-time league winners Three Star are now in the sixth position in the table.

After a goalless first half dominated by the Army, Shrestha put them ahead nine minutes into the second half with an acrobatic volley from six yards on a cross from captain Bharat Khawas. Shrestha, however, earned a yellow card for taking his shirt off while celebrating his goal.

The Army continued to press on and earned a freekick 11 minutes from time after George Prince Karki was brought down by Three Star defender Ashok Khawas. Tamang drilled his shot into the right corner beating diving Three Star's Cameroonian custodian Gullaume Yves Priso Njanga. Tamang was making his first appearance in the league this season after serving a 45-day suspension imposed by the national football governing entity, ANFA, for violating the players' code.

Three Star had a chance for a late consolation in the added time. But Rupesh KC's effort from 12 yards was denied by a diving Bikesh Kuthu. The Army 'keeper comfortably saved Sushil Rai's shot from the rebound as well to walk away with a clean sheet.

Army coach Nabin Neupane looked content after having won three points against the title contenders, but lamented his team's wasted chances in the first half. "The return of Santosh obviously makes us a better side now," Neupane said.

Three Star coach Megh Raj KC rued the absence of his captain Bikram Lama, who was suspended for the match after collecting two yellow cards in the previous three matches. "We lost the team balance, and we just could not play the way we wanted. Our forwards have yet to deliver," KC said.

Earlier in the day, Nepal Police Club beat Sankata 2-1. Nepal Police’s Suman Lama scored on either side of Amit Tamang's equaliser from the spot. Police had several chances in the second half as well, but they failed to capitalise them. Sankata, the last season’s runners-up, too had a few efforts of their own but could not produce anything substantial.

The win takes the Nepal Police to fifth place in the standings with seven points, while Sankata have dropped to tenth with only four points from four matches.

Police coach Ananta Raj Thapa credited the timely goals for the win. "We had fielded in taller players today to counter the physical advantage of the opponent's foreign players and it worked as we did well with the aerial balls," he said. "Our strategy of attacking from the wings paid dividends."

"Today's win adds vigour to the dressing room, it will boost the team confidence for the upcoming games," Thapa said, adding that they were taking every match as a knockout clash.

Sankata coach Bijay Maharjan did not mince words, while expressing disappointment over the loss. "I expect more from the boys. But they failed to make the best of their chances, especially the foreign players," he said.

In Thursday’s only tie, Armed Police Force play Saraswoti Youth Club.