Machhindra FC would have had a three-point cushion at the top of the points table had they defeated Tribhuvan Army FC on Monday.

However, Army handed Machhindra a 2-1 loss at the Dasharath Stadium to keep the fight for the title race interesting.

Army and Machhindra faced off in the last of the three National League matches scheduled on Monday.

In the first match of the day at the ANFA Complex, Satdobato Youth Club and Nepal Police Club played a 2-2 draw thanks to Subash Tharu equalising with a freekick for the departmental side in 90+9 minutes.

Meanwhile, Laligurans Association Club defeated Planning Boyz United 3-2 at Dasharath Stadium in the second match. With Planning making a comeback in the second half, after falling behind 2-0 in the first half, Ashish Gurung scored the winning goal for Laligurans in the 83rd minute.

With the win, Laligurans stayed in the title race with 24 points from six wins and six draws in 12 games. They are behind second-placed Armed Police Force (25 points in 11 games) and table-topper Machhindra (25 points in 11 games).

Before the match against Army, Machhindra were above APF based on goal difference. Thus, a win over Army was much needed for Machhindra to go three points clear.

But as two of the best players for Army got themselves in the scoresheet, Machhindra lost.

With the game delayed by around half-an-hour after heavy rain, Nawayug Shrestha opened the score for Army in the 40th minute.

With the players struggling a bit as the Dasharath Stadium ground was soaked in water, Machhindra bounced back within minutes with Jonathan Eduardo Cantillana Zorrilla’s equaliser in the 43rd.

The second half was expected to be a tough battle for both teams. However, with Gillespye Jung Karki bringing Army back to the lead by finding the back of the net only three minutes into the second half, Army took control.

It was Shrestha and Karki’s seventh and fifth individual goals of the tournament, respectively.

Machhindra and Army kept creating chances as there was enough time remaining on the clock. But none led to changes in the scoresheet.

The win also kept Army in the title race as they are fourth in the points table with 23 points from 11 games.

Other teams staying close in the title race are Planning Boyz United (22 points from 12 games), Church Boys United (22 points from 10 games) and New Road Team (20 points from 11 games).

In the tournament between 17 teams, each team is playing 16 games in a single round-robin format.