Departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) Club defeated Khumaltar Youth Club 2-0 in the Martyrs Memorial A-Division League at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur on Monday.

Abdou Ramani and Armand Beadoum scored on either side of the half time as APF climbed up to the fifth position in the 14-team standings with 17 points from 12 matches.

Khumaltar forward Messouke Oloumou was far from his best and wasted two opportunities, 20 minutes into the game.

The Cameroonian should have capitalised on an error by APF goalkeeper Anjal Shrestha, who marched beyond the area, only to make a poor clearance. Oloumou found the ball but could not twist it as the APF defenders overwhelmed him.

The Cameroonian also had a chance in the 23rd minute when Jiwan Gurung set him up inside the box with a cross, but Oloumou was too slow to act.

It was APF who drew first blood in the 26th minute when Ramani side-footed inside the right post after Budhi Man Rai cut back for him. It was Ramani’s first goal for the departmental side.

Khumaltar desperately pushed for an equaliser and Rajib Lopchan should have scored moments after the half-hour mark when Stephen Binong’s pass found APF goalkeeper Anjal on the way but Lopchan’s lack of confidence at the goal allowed APF defenders to outnumber him.

Oloumou then forced Anjal for a save in the additional minute of the first half.

Khumaltar’s Damodar Thapa missed another opportunity when Binong led the ball away from him at the edge of the area but Thapa fired off the target.

Bipan Shrestha went for APF in the 62nd minute and Beadoum doubled the lead in the 70th minute, pouncing on a blunder from Khumaltar goalkeeper Raj Kumar Limbu, who abandoned the post to unsuccessfully deal with a long pass from Ramani. Beadoum dispossessed Limbu and slammed from distance to seal the goal.

Khumaltar’s Thapa missed the target by inch after Lopchan connected for him in the 73rd minute before Oloumou’s free kick almost beat the APF goalkeeper, but APF held on for their fifth win of the season.

Khumaltar now sit in the 11th position with 13 points—just two above 13th-placed Himalayan Sherpa Club. Nepal Police Club lie at the bottom with just six points.

Jawalakhel Youth Club lead the team standings with 23 points.

APF official Pandey handed an eight-match suspension

Former Nepal international and APF FC official Jibesh Pandey was handed an eight-match suspension in the A-Division League and fined Rs10,000 as disciplinary action.

According to All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), Pandey was punished for entering the pitch against Sankata Club on April 16 during half time and delaying the restart of the game as well as manhandling fourth official Gyan Bahadur Moktan in their match against Machhindra Football Club on April 19. APF were also fined an additional amount of Rs2,000 for delaying the restart.

Sankata Club were also fined Rs10,000 over their goalkeeper’s jersey dispute against APF that resulted in a late kickoff.

Khumaltar were fined Rs10,000 for vandalising chairs at the dressing room following their 7-3 defeat against Machhindra at the Chyasal Stadium. Machhindra were also slapped a fine of Rs10,000 for attempting to attack referees after their 1-1 draw against the New Road Team.