Satdobato secure promotion to ‘A’ Division League

Satdobato Youth Club secured promotion to 'A' Division on Saturday after their closest rivals Khumaltar Youth Club succumbed to a shock 2-1 defeat against strugglers Shree Bhagawati Club in the Martyrs Memorial 'B' Division League at the ANFA complex, Satdobato, on Saturday.

Second place Khumaltar could have kept their faint hope for promotion alive had they beaten Shree Bhagawati in the penultimate match and won the next fixture while leaders Satdobato lose both of their remaining matches. Only the champions in the 12-team contest secure promotion while the team finishing at the bottom of table will be relegated to the third division.

Shree Bhagawati, meanwhile, pulled the third win of the campaign and climbed one spot up to seventh with 12 points in their kitty.

Khumaltar, who tasted their second defeat, have only lost to Satdobato in their previous match of the league campaign. They have 22 points after playing the 10th match and are three points behind Satdobato, who have a match advantage over their rivals. Even if Khumaltar win their next match and Satdobato lost both remaining matches, the two sides will be tied at 25 points each. Satdobato would secure promotion in such a situation due to head-to-head superior record over Khumaltar.

*A point each of Bansbari and Nayabasti has been deducted for finishing in bottom two positions in the last season’s league which did not have relegation.

Khumaltar seemed to be heading to another win early in the match when they went ahead in the 26th minute. Sabin KC opened the scoring for Khumaltar from the spot after Ayush Ghalan was fouled by Aron Thapa in the area, prompting match referee Nabindra Maharjan to award the penalty.

Dona Thapa restored the parity for Shree Bhagawati in the 40th minute. Thapa beat goalie Anjal Shrestha inside the area and shot at the open post. Aashish Shrestha ensured that they walked away with victory six minutes from time after he headed a free kick from the crowded area.

In another match, Milan Limbu scored the lone goal of the match as Boys Union Club edged Tusal Youth Club 1-0. Limbu headed the decisive goal in the 72nd minute after he headed skipper Abinash Ghising's right flank cross from the six-yard box.

With fifth win Boys Union remain unchanged in fourth place with 17 points while Tushal are in tenth place with nine points. Both teams have played two matches each.