Church Boys United are now champions-in-waiting after Machhindra Club melted in the heat of pressure of trying to keep pace with Bal Gopal Maharjan’s side’s relentless march in the Martyr's Memorial ‘A’ Division League.

The reigning champions suffered a 2-1 defeat against Nepal Police Club at the Chyasal Stadium leaving the league debutants and leaders five points clear at the top with two matches remaining, meaning, CBU are now one win or a draw away from their historic title.

Machhindra have 39 points from 24 matches.

Up next for CBU is Three Star Club, who are on a 13-match winless run—the longest in the league this season—and are in danger of being relegated to ‘B’ Division League for the first time in their club history.

Beat or draw against Three Star on Tuesday and CBU will become the first team to win the A-Division League title in their debut season since record-eight time champions Manang Marshyangdi Club in 1986.

Machhindra are in action against Himalayan Sherpa Club a day later and the holders can only pray for CBU’s surprise collapse. But that would not be enough. Machhindra must beat Sherpa to push the title race down to the final day or surrender the title to CBU.

Jawalakhel Youth Club flapped their wings inside top two for most of the season, tussling with CBU for top spot, but their hopes of winning their maiden title vanished into thin air after they were floored by CBU 3-0 on Saturday.

That win had already given CBU an edge in the title race.

All Machhindra needed to do to maintain pressure on CBU was earn three points against Police. But they buckled under the pressure and let slip their one goal lead in a dramatic afternoon.

Olawale Afeez had given Machhindra a 22nd minute lead, tapping in a pass from Tshring Gurung.

But Moses Gyabaah Twum brilliantly scored a free kick to level the game in the 75th minute and bundled in the winner in the 83rd minute after Buddha Tamang’s killer pass found the Ghana forward behind Machhindra defence, pouring cold water to Machhindra’s bid to win a third consecutive title.

In fact, Machhindra’s downfall had begun long before Sunday’s heartbreak. Their ambition to successfully defend the trophy was already put in question when they lost their opener 3-1 against Jawalakhel, which was followed by a 2-0 loss against Army and a 0-0 draw against Manang.

But they took advantage of inconsistent form of other teams including Jawalakhel and CBU to crawl back to the contention. But more damage was done in between when they lost 1-0 against Armed Police Force Club and 2-1 against CBU—their only other two losses before Sunday’s defeat. They also dropped points in nine matches including a 0-0 draw against CBU in the fifth round.

Now, their head-to-head record against CBU is also proving too costly.

Relegation battle

Khumaltar Youth Club are on the verge of being relegated to the ‘B’ Division League after they lost 3-0 against Sankata Club at the ANFA Complex.

Nishan Khadka, Ayush Ghalan and Chandan Kumar Das scored for Sankata, leaving Khumaltar still four points away from the safe zone. They now need a miracle in the last two rounds to secure their stay in the country’s top tier league.

Friends Club fought back for a 1-1 draw against Manang at the Dasharath Stadium but stayed second from bottom with 26 points. Nirajan Dhami put Manang in front with a header off a corner from Bijaya Shrestha.

Amit Tamang cancelled Dhami’s opener from the spot kick in the 86th minute after Chetan Kumar Tharu brought down Uttam Rai inside the box.

Earlier at the Dasharath Stadium, New Road Team and Sherpa played out a 1-1 draw.