Assured of the title with two matches in hand, Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League champions Machhindra Club wrapped up the league in style maintaining an unbeaten streak with a 2-1 win over APF FC on Saturday while Tribhuvan Army FC finished second as they salvaged a 1-1 draw against Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC).

Machhindra, also the defending champions, were rewarded with a purse of Rs7.5 million while runners-up Army walked away with Rs5 million.

Abhishek Gurung and substitute Rejin Subba struck a goal at each end to finish the league maintaining an eight-match winning streak at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar. They, however, conceded for the first time in 12 league games after Pradip Lama struck for APF in the mid second half to restore parity for a short moment.

Machhindra, studded with domestic starts along with four foreign recruits, had last conceded a goal in their 2-1 victory over NRT in the opening game. Goalie Bishal Shrestha’s record of not conceding a goal in domestic top tier football ended in 1,184 minutes.

In another game, eight-time champions MMC’s ambition of finishing third hit a snag after Cameroonian defender Franklin Kuete Talla’s own goal condemned them to a 1-1 draw against Army. Captain Anjan Bista had given MMC the lead in the first half.

At the ANFA Complex, Cameroonian winger Messouke Oloumou struck the third hat-trick of the league to inspire NRT to a 3-1 victory over Nepal Police Club and finish third. They received Rs2.5 million.

The outcomes meant Machhindra finished on top with 35 points, 12 points clear of second place Army and third placed NRT—both of whom collected 23 points apiece. But Army snatched the second position based on head-to-head record having beaten NRT 1-0. MMC stood fifth despite

finishing level on 21 points with Satdobato. Police signed off in 11th place with 12 points.

Forward Abhishek Gurung, who got the first start of the league, put Machhindra ahead in the 42nd converting Andres Nia’s pass. But Pradip Lama restored parity for APF in the 70th after he placed the ball into the unguarded net, seeing goalie Bishal Shrestha out of his position.

But Machhindra had the final say as substitute Rejin Subba netted the decisive goal eight minutes from time as he collected Nia’s pass beating an offside trap and placed the ball past Japanese goalie Yuya Kuriyama.

In the early kick-off, captain Anjan Bista broke the deadlock at the stroke of half time. The winger applied a finishing touch after he found a ball thwarted by goalie Bikesh Kuthu in his bid to stop Dinesh Rajbanshi’s header. But Franklin Kuete Tala turned Santosh Tamang’s freekick into his own net after he collided with goalie Ashok Baral inside the area.

NRT’s Mesuke Oloumou netted all three goals after the break to overturn an early deficit against Police. Police went ahead in the second minute after defender Shiva Gurung hit an own goal. But the Cameroonian midfielder hit back an equaliser two minutes into the restart, netted his second in the 62nd and completed hat-trick in the 83rd to finish league as joint top scorer along with Jamoul Anthony Francois of Friends on seven goals.

Machhindra custodian Bishal Shrestha, who conceded just two goals this season, was declared the best goalkeeper. His teammate Sunil Bal was named the most valuable player. NRT winger Oloumou won the top scorer award by the virtue of less playing time despite being tied with Friends’ Trinidadian striker Francois. Army’s Dinesh Henjan was declared the emerging player. Debutants Satdobato received the fair play team award.