KATHMANDU, Oct 3: Pre-tournament favorite Ranipokhari Corner Team's (RCT's) Martyrs Memorial B Division League football tournament campaign ended with a 2-1 win over relegated Mahabir Club, but its quest of earning promotion remained unfulfilled.
RCT finished with 24 points from 13 matches including six wins and draws each and a defeat. It currently stands third, one point behind joint leaders New Road Team and Tushal Youth Club, both of them having a match advantage over RCT. Satdobato Youth Club stands fourth with 22 points and also enjoys a match advantage over RCT.
In the match played at the APF ground, Halchowk, RCT was made to sweat until the fading moments to score the winner. Dinesh Thapa Magar scored winner in the second minute of the stoppage time.
Earlier, an own goal from RCT's Nikesh Thapa Magar during half an hour mark had given lead to a spirited Mahabir side. But Mahabir's joy seemed short lived as RS Rana hit back the equalizer a minute later.
In another match of the day, a hat-trick from Suraj Raut guided Khumaltar Youth Club to a comfortable 4-0 win over Nayabasti Youth Club during its last match of the campaign. Suraj also topped the list of highest scorers with 10 goals under his belt.
Following the win, Khumaltar finished with 18 points and Nayabasti with 13 points after their last match. Khumaltar stands seventh in the points table while Nayabasti is 10th and its position in the standing is likely to change following the outcome of other matches of the tournament.
Suraj put Khumaltar ahead in the 35th minute while Sabir Chaudhary made it 2-0 a few seconds before the break. Suraj scored his individual second goal in the 53rd and completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute.
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