Armed Police Force FC and Laligurans Association Club extended their unbeaten run in the ANFA National League after winning their respective seventh match of the tournament on Wednesday.

APF defeated Manang Marsyangdi Club 2-0 at the third and last match of the day at the Dasharath Stadium. With the win, APF have kept their No 1 spot secure on the points table.

Pradip Lama and Yubraaj Khadka found the back of the net in the 42nd and 71st minutes to give APF three points, with which the departmental side now has 19 points from six wins and a draw.

Meanwhile, APF suffered a major blow on Wednesday after the Patan High Court overturned the ANFA Appeal Committee’s decision of relegating Three Star Club to the B Division. Based on the verdict, APF will now be relegated.

On the other hand, Laligurans, dubbed as the underdogs of the tournament, have climbed to the second position after defeating Kankrebihar Youth Club in the first match of the day.

Laligurans won 4-1 on the back of a hat-trick by Abdul Yusuph Haule.

Haule was the third player in the tournament to score a hattrick after Milan Rai of Church Boys United and Papa Ibou Kebe of Planning Boyz United.

Meanwhile, Haule’s hat-trick was the fastest so far.

Mukunda Kumar Niure opened the account for Laligurans in the 35th minute. And before Kankrebihar could find their composure, Haule scored within two minutes to extend the lead to 2-0 before the first half whistle.

Haule then scored his next two goals within a span of a minute. He completed his hat-trick with two more goals in the 55th and 56th minutes.

On the other hand, of the three matches played at the Dasharath Stadium on Wednesday, Satdobato Youth Club and Shree Bhagawati Club settled for a goalless draw in the second match.

Two opponents closest to challenging the top two positions of APF and Laligurans are Machhindra FC and Planning Boyz. Machhindra have 16 points from six matches, while Planning have 16 from seven games.

There are three more fixtures at the Dasharath Stadium on Thursday—Nepal Police Club vs Nawa Jana Jagriti Yuwa Club, Planning Boyz vs New Road Team and Tribhuvan Army FC vs Jawalakhel Youth Club.