In a match befitting tournament final, Lalitpur City staged a stunning comeback to beat Dhangadhi 3-2 and clinch the title of the second edition of the Nepal Super League at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Dhangadhi had taken the lead through Olawale Afeez but Imon Ezekiel broke their hearts with two breathtaking goals either side of Dinesh Henjan’s strike to give Lalitpur their maiden title of the franchise tournament.

“Tonight, we were the better team,” Lalitpur’s Australian coach Ian Andrew Gillan said after the match. “I would like to thank everyone who has participated in this journey.”

For Dhangadhi, their quest for the title was interrupted at the last hurdle for a second season, after losing to Kathmandu Rayzrs 1-0 in the final in 2021.

Lalitpur were playing the final—their first—after just a one-day break against a fully rested Dhangadhi who had booked their spot in the title match with a 4-3 penalty shootout win against Pokhara on December 25. Lalitpur were also missing their key man in Indian midfielder Nikhil Sureshrao Kadam who had received a red card during the Qualifier 2.

But Gillian’s men showed a spirited display in front of their supporters at the jam-packed stadium and outclassed Yugal Kishor Rai’s men—especially after falling behind.

“We were tired obviously… but we were confident and mentally strong,” said Lalitpur captain Ananta Tamang, whose side had ended Kathmandu Rayzrs’ title defence in the Eliminator before beating group winners Pokhara Thunders in the Qualifier 2.

“Our team played with a strong mentality and we achieved the result,” Tamang, who is also the national team defender, said.

The initial stages of the game was a battle of the midfield, which Dhangadhi won to take the lead in the 38th minute through Afeez.

Aashish Chaudhary masterminded the assault, slicing open the Lalitpur midfield and defence with a cutting pass on the left to Ahmad Hijaji. The Lebanese forward then showed his pace and control to cut inside before firing the ball which caromed off Lalitpur goalkeeper Jeffery Willy Marcel before finding unmarked Afeez and the Nigerian calmly placed the ball into the net.

But it proved a false dawn for Dhangadhi.

Lalitpur grew more aggressive after conceding and constantly knocked the Dhangadhi door looking for the equaliser. It came from the set piece at the stroke of the half time when Ezekiel brilliantly placed a freekick—awarded after Kamal Shrestha handled the ball—through the wall and into the bottom corner leaving goalkeeper Mohamad Taha clueless.

Lalitpur struck again when the iron was still hot, courtesy of Aditya Shakya who ran full steam to connect with a well-measured pass from Sesehang Angdembe, cut infield and put it on the plate for Dinesh Henjan. Taha was partly at fault as the goalkeeper misjudged the moment to reach out for the ball but Shakya outsmarted Taha and set up Henjan, who tapped into the empty net to increase the lead in the 50th minute. Shakya was declared player-of-the-match for the show-stealing assist.

Dhangadhi were already battered, unable to figure out what had gone wrong but Lalitpur were clear about the gravity of the match.

And Ezekiel put the result beyond reach in the 58 minute, finishing a counter attack with an outstanding bicycle kick. Ananta Tamang engineered the raid, releasing Papa Ibou Kebe who danced past Abhishek Gurung to find Henjan on the left. Henjan crossed the ball for Ezekiel. Dhangadhi defender Richard Osei Agyemang intervened to block the shot but it went back to Kebe who chested the ball towards the post and Ezekiel launched himself into the air and produced a bicycle shot that beat Taha before finding the back of the net.

Dhangadhi, whose miserable evening was worsened by the sending off of Agyemang in the 79th minute, put everything in their power searching for goals. Hijaji reduced the deficit with a header in stoppage time but it was already too late.

“We scored and took the lead but our engine room was weaker… which continued in the second half as well. That’s why we lost the crucial final,” a dejected Dhangadhi coach Yugal Kishor Rai said after the match. “But we will come back stronger next season and give our fans the trophy in the third edition.”

Champions Lalitpur won a cash prize of Rs7,000,000—a prize money that was doubled this season. Last edition’s winners Kathmandu had received Rs3,500,000.

Runners-up Dhangadhi walked away with Rs2,000,000.