Dhangadhi moved to the top of the Nepal Super League table after they defeated Chitwan 1-0 at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Thursday.

The victory maintained tournament favourites Dhangadhi’s unbeaten run in the season and also returned the last edition’s runners-up, who had drawn their last two matches, back to winning ways.

Dhangadhi have 11 points from five matches, two ahead of Lalitpur City, who have nine points. Defending champions Kathmandu Rayzrs and Pokhara Thunders are one point behind Lalitpur but Kathmandu sit in the third position due to goal difference.

Dhangadhi started brightly and took the lead after just two minutes when Olawale Afeez took Chitwan goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha by surprise, placing a long shot into the far top corner.

The early goal gave Dhangadhi control of the match but Yougal Kishor Rai’s men had to withstand a series of deadly attacks, including a penalty, to keep Chitwan at bay.

Chitwan constantly knocked the door of the opponents looking for the equaliser, with Tshring Gurung coming closer to goal in the 38th minute when Nawayug Shrestha followed a good work from Rafiq Aminu to set him through at goal but Dhangadhi’s Randip Paudel stood firm to keep out Gurung’s shot.

Mehrajuddin Waddo’s side were finally rewarded for the pressure in the third minute of the first half added time after Richard Osei Agyemang ended up handling the ball when his teammate Rohan Karki tried to clear the ball from the crowded area.

Bimal Gharti Magar stepped up to take the spot kick but Dhangadhi goalkeeper Tikendra Thapa, who was playing his first match, made a brilliant save to deny Chitwan the equaliser.

Chitwan continued the bombardment after the restart as well and Gharti Magar forced a save from goalkeeper Thapa in the 49th minute.

Thapa was the hero again in the 53rd minute when he prevented Shrestha’s header from going in with a high-flying save.

At the other end, second-half substitute Aashish Chaudhary had a golden opportunity to double the lead in the 57th minute when Afeez intercepted a poor pass from Marko Ivanovic at the left side of the box, evading the advancing goalkeeper Shrestha simultaneously, and cut back for Chaudhary but the forward failed to put the ball into the empty net.

Chitwan kept on probing for an equaliser and almost did get it in the added time of the second half when goalkeeper Thapa’s unsuccessful attempt to punch away a corner allowed Afriyie Quah to fire a low shot from close range but Agyemang made a goal line clearance as Dhangadhi held on.

A third loss in six matches puts Chitwan unchanged in the seventh position, and level on five points with eighth-placed Birgunj United. Sporting Ilam are at the bottom with four points.

Chitwan have managed only one victory in the Nepal Super League across the two editions. Their only win of the franchise tournament came when they beat Birgunj 2-1 two weeks ago.