Bagmati Youth Club strengthened their chances of progressing into the playoffs of the ANFA Women’s League after they defeated Waling Municipality 2-0 at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur on Friday.

Asmita Khawash and Bishnu Maya Bal scored in the second half, earning Bagmati their first three points of the Super League. They sit in fourth position with three points.

Defending champions Armed Police Force Club lead the five-team standings with perfect nine points from three games. Tribhuvan Army Club and Nepal Police Club follow in second and third place with seven points each, the former edging ahead on goal difference. Police, however, have played one more game.

The top four teams at the end of the double round robin league progress into the playoff stage. The top two teams battle in the Qualifier 1 for a direct berth in the final. The third-placed and fourth-placed teams face each other in the Eliminator. The winners of the Eliminator will meet the losing side of Qualifier 1 in the second qualifier match for the remaining spot in the championship match.

Bagmati entered the ground as favourites given their recent form but it was Waling who nearly broke the deadlock in the 35th minute. Mina Deuba beautifully evaded two Bagmati defenders and fired a shot past onrushing Bagmati goalkeeper Sujata Tamang, only to miss the target by a whisker.

The dull first half was otherwise uneventful, with neither side creating clear opportunities.

The match burst into life after the restart.

Bagmati showed urgency and broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute capitalising on a goalkeeping howler from Radhika Oli.

Asmita Chaudhary orchestrated the move. Chaudhary, after connecting with a pass from Bal, showcased her deft footwork to stretch the Waling defence. Sahara Limbu showed a brilliant run to find the ball and delivered a low shot that deflected off the foot of Oli who had come outside the six yard box. The ball found an unmarked Khawash who calmly slotted into the deserted post.

Waling dominated the latter part of the game despite falling behind and then pressed for an equaliser.

Waling came close to levelling the score in the 55th minute but Bagmati goalie Tamang made a double save, first denying Deuba in a one-on-one situation and then blocking Sukriya Miya’s rebound attempt.

Miya threatened the Bagmati box moments later with a lofted shot that forced Tamng to stretch to her limits to prevent the ball from finding the top corner.

Waling came close again in the 72nd minute as Bagmati’s Tamang spilled a powerful strike from Miya but recovered in time to block Deuba’s follow-up effort.

But Bagmati doubled their lead in the 75th minute, capitalizing their only second chance of the game as Bal’s half volley sailed over a lazy Waling goalie Oli, who was subsequently substituted for her lacklustre display.

Khawash nearly added Bagmati third in the 84th minute but her long-range effort struck the upright.