Saroj Tamang scored a quick hat-trick as Futsal 5 Dharan came from behind to defeat their local rivals The Rising Club 7-5 in the 'A' Division National Futsal League on Thursday.

Rising Club were leading the Dharan derby 3-2 before the break at the Pokhara covered hall thanks to Sudip Gurung's brace early in the 4th and 8th minute. Dorje Tamang stretched their lead just before the half-time.

Bijaya Shrestha netted in the 17th and 20th to reduce the deficit for Futsal 5.

Milan Rai and substitute Hemanta Thapa Magar scored in the 24th and 29th to further the advantage for Rising after the break, but it was the five minutes of drama in the closing minutes that rocked the Rising Club's hopes of moving to the top of the table.

Tamang got his first goal of the game in the 35th and added two more in the next minute to level the score. Substitute Ranjit Gurung then gave Futsal 5 lead in the 37th and Prabesh Joshi completed the comeback a minute later.

Rising coach Yubendra Gurung said Futsal 5 would not be able to fight back if his side's captain and goalkeeper Sachin Shrestha had not been shown a red card a minute before the interval. Gurung also slammed the referee's decision to send off Shrestha.

"If the captain was not sent off, we would not have lost the match which we were leading," said Gurung. "The red card was not fair. The referee lacks maturity. We lost the three important points due to the referee's unfair judgment," he fumed.

Futsal 5 coach Biswash Lama said his team's comeback fight boosted their confidence.

"Rising were leading until the final minutes. The sending off of our captain Sandip Karki even before the interval did not help us. But our players kept hope and continued fighting… we were able to bring the result into our favour," said Lama. "This comeback victory has given us more confidence. Our players have learnt that they should not worry even if they concede goals and keep their hope alive."

The win sends Futsal 5 joint second with Sankhamul on 14 points with the latter having a match on their hand. They will play sixth-placed Sky Goals on Friday as they bid to keep their unbeaten streak and move to the top of the table.

Leaders Sports Castle, who are also unbeaten and have 16 points, will take on fifth-placed Sabin Memorial in the Pokhara derby in the early match on Friday.

In the other match of the day, Dhuku Futsal fought back to thrash relegation-threatened Lumbini Futsal 5-2 courtesy of braces from substitutes Bikrant Narsingh Rana and Prasiddha Magar in the final 10 minutes. Abhay Rana also got on the scoresheet in the 37th minute.

Anoj Gaire had come from the bench and scored twice in the 24th and 29th to give Lumbini a 2-0 lead.

Dhuku are in seventh place managing seven points after seven matches. Lumbini are second from the bottom with only one win and a draw.

Winless Jharana Sports Club will face eighth-placed Prabhetpheri Youth Club in the late Friday fixture.