Machhindra FC registered their first win of the season as they defeated Nepal Police Club 2-1 in the Martyrs Memorial A-Division League on Tuesday.

The reigning champions had had a poor start to their defence of the A-Division League title, losing two and drawing one.

But they finally showed some signs of recovery against the bottom-placed Police at the Dasharath Stadium, with Olawale Afeez starting for the first time for the holders.

But their misery looked to have continued again when Anjan Rai headed in a cross from Rabi Shankar Paswan in the ninth minute to score Police’s only second goal in four matches.

But Afeez came to Machhindra’s rescue, scoring twice in the 20th and 40th minute of the game.

Bimal Gharti Magar—who missed a chance to equalise when his close-range header hit the crossbar in the 18th minute—engineered Machhindra’s frenzied attack in the 20th minute.

Gharti Magar released Japanese forward Yuta Suzuki, who crossed for Afeez. The ball evaded the Nigerian but found Utsab Rai, whose effort deflected off Santosh Hemran and fell at the feet of Abishek Gurung. Police goalie Sanjeet Shrestha unsuccessfully blocked Gurung’s effort and Afeez tapped in for his first goal.

Afeez then pounced on a weak clearance by Police goalkeeper Shrestha and volleyed home to give Machhindra a morale-boosting victory.

It was Police’s fourth defeat in as many matches. Machhindra climbed out of the drop zone with four points.

Church Boys held

Leaders Church Boys United’s perfect record in the league came to a halt after they played a goalless draw with Sankata Club in an intense match at the ANFA Complex.

After defeating Police, Khumaltar and Himalayan Sherpa, newcomers CBU were boosted by the arrival of national forward Anjan Bista but lacked the cutting edge to convert the opportunities into goals.

In a frantic opening, Manish Dangi dispossessed Franklin Kuete Talla but shot over the bar in the second minute of the start.

Bista, who came to Nepal after playing for I-League side Mumbai Kenkre FC, found an opportunity to put CBU in front in the 17th minute but Sankata defender Andre Thierry Biyik proved too strong for him.

Two minutes later, Sankata rattled the bar thanks to a scorcher from Onguene Nkengue.

Ashish Chapagain should have put CBU in front seconds later when Bista set him up inside the box with a perfectly placed pass but Chapagain spurned the golden opportunity as effort was saved by Sankata goalkeeper Guillaume Yves Priso.

Biyik then wasted Sankata’s chance to take the lead in the 43rd minute when the unmarked Cameroonian found the corner in the penalty area but Arik Bista came between his left-footed half-volley and the post.

Sankata were awarded a penalty in the injury time of the second half after Manoj Rai handled the ball inside the box. Dangi stepped up to take the kick but Priso saved the penalty to rescue CBU from the mouth of a first defeat of the season.

CBU still lead the standings with 10 points from four matches. Satdobato, who suffered their first defeat on Monday, are second on nine points. Sankata are eighth with five points.

Friends record first win

Friends Club pulled off their first win of the season after they beat ten-man Jawalakhel Youth Club 2-1 at the Dasharath Stadium.

Rafiq Aminu gave Friends the lead in the 19th minute with a simple tap after Jawalakhel goalie Anish Deula let slip a shot from captain Prakash Budhathoki.

Budhathoki then furthered Friends’ advantage in the 40th minute volleying over Deula after a good work from Laxman Ruchal.

Fode Fofana pulled one for Jawalakhel from the spot kick in the 87th minute after Amit Tamang floored Samiraj Thokar inside the box.

Jawalakhel captain Simanta Thapa was sent off in the fifth minute of second half injury time for his lack of sportsmanship as he needlessly pushed down Aminu to the ground in the heat of the moment as Ghanaian tried to seize the ball from Rahul.