Brigade Boys joined Chyasal Youth Club in getting relegated to the ‘B’ Division League after succumbing to a 3-2 defeat against newcomers Satdobato Youth Club on Monday.

Brigade were the second and final team to drop to the second division before playing their final round match, following the downfall of Chyasal two days ago.

Coach Sanoj Shrestha’s men could only manage one win, losing seven of their 12 games this season to stay second-bottom in the 14-team league standings with just seven points, one point above Chyasal.

Brigade had made a promising start to the 2021-22 season defeating APF FC 3-2 in their opening game in November 21 last year but their form quickly plummeted and they struggled in the relegation zone most of the season.

They needed a win to keep alive their slim chance of survival before the final round and did all they could against Satdobato coming from behind twice in a five-goal thriller, but their fight to retain their status in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League did not pay off in the end.

Satdobato drew the first blood at the Dasharath Stadium. Forward Sushil Rai sprinted forward to meet captain Man Bahadur Tamang’s cross inside the penalty area and put Satdobato in front in the 13th minute with a cool finish.

But it took Brigade only three minutes to hit back an equaliser. Unmarked Cameroonian defender Bertrand Ebode Ottou fired from close range after Satdobato’s defenders failed to clear a free kick from Dorje Tamang inside the penalty area.

Satdobato retook the lead quickly. Forward Deepak Raj Singh Thakuri raced onto a brilliant through header by Nigerian forward Ajayi Martins, rounded Brigade’s outrushing Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh and slotted into an open.

Brigade, however, were not done with their fight yet. Their second equaliser came in the 51st minute thanks to a goalkeeping blunder from Satdobato’s Abishek Baral, who failed to hold a grasp on a long free kick from Manoj Raj allowing Roshan Rana Magar to tap in and give the strugglers a glimmer of hope.

But Satdobato showed no mercy towards their city rivals as forward Niraj Chaudhary, set up by Sudip Gurung, darted his shot into the top corner as late in the 87th, putting the game to bed.

“We lacked consistency throughout the league,” said dejected Shrestha. “That’s why we are relegated.”

This is the third time Brigade have been relegated to the second division since making their first appearance in the top tier league in 2004. They successfully hung on in ‘A’ Division league for three straight seasons finishing ninth in both their first two seasons before dropping to ‘B’ Division after finishing 14th in the 2006-7 edition. They made a brief comeback gaining promotion in 2011 but failed to keep their momentum and got relegated again the same year.

They returned to the first division in 2018 after the league resumed following a five-year hiatus but have struggled since. They finished 12th in the 2018-19 season that had no relegation and 13th (second last) in the 2019-20 season that saw only the bottom team get demoted.

Meanwhile, the fifth win sent Satdobato up to fifth in the table with 18 points, one point behind Tribhuvan Army FC and two adrift of second-placed and third-placed New Road Team (NRT) and Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC).

Machhindra Club have already been crowned champions after they successfully defended the title with two matches in hand.

“I am not happy with the win,” Satdobato coach Megh Raj KC expressed dissatisfaction.

“Our match was not as good as expected,” added KC, who was a Brigade player when the club celebrated their historic promotion eighteen years ago.

Today’s Fixtures

Nepal Police Club vs AFP FC

Time: 13:00 NST

Tribhuvan Army FC vs Sankata Club

16:45 NST

Venue: Dasharath Stadium