By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov 22 : A solitary goal from defender Dinesh Rabanshi helped Manang Marsyandgi Club start the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League with a 1-0 win over Jawalakhel Youth Club at Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu on Sunday.

This is the third time Manang defeated Jawalakhel 1-0. However, title favourite Manang could not impress with their performance.

Lalitpur’s outfit Jawalakhel failed to take lead in the 45th minute after Onguna Nkengue Junior stunning header to Suraj Jyu Thakuri’s cross rebounded.

Manang failed to break the deadlock in the 49th minute after their mid-fielder Dayananda Singh Elangbam strike went wide from the crossbar.

Eight-time league champion again squandered a chance after captain Anjan Bista failed to score in an open net after beating Jawalakhel goal keeperThapa in the 54th minute.
Manang, however, found the net in the 57th minute from the goal of their defender Dinesh, who took the advantage of out-of-position goalie Thapa to score the cross of Dayanada Sing from the crowded box.

Unmarked Sunil Khadka failed to level the score after his free header was easily blocked by Manang Keeper Bishal Sunar in the 60th minute.

Brigade triumph
Brigade Boys Club (BBC) recorded a 3-2 victory over Armed Police Force Club (APF) to start this season’s top tier league at Dasarath Stadium in the first match of the day.  
Dinesh Rai netted a brace and Suraj Gurung scored one goal to earn the three points for the Brigade.

They joined at top of the table with Three Star Club. 
Aashish Lama and Bikey Tamang scored one goal apiece for APF in their opening match of the league.

Brigade opened their account in the 11th minute after Dinesh Rai’s free-kick from a 35-yard distance directly kissed the APF’s net. Brigade could not hold onto their lead even for six minutes as Aashish Lama found the equalizer for APF in the 17th minute. He slotted the ball off Awas Lamichhane from the close range.

Roshan Rana Magar could have restored the lead of Brigade in the 44th minute but his strike in an open net rebounded hitting the second bar.

After the break, APF also squandered their chance to double their tally as striker Ashish Lama’s close-range shot rebounded from the cross-bar in the 49th minute. 
Dinesh put Brigade ahead in the 65th minute scoring his second in Dady Junior’s pass from the crowd area. 

APF again restored the parity as substitute Bikey Tamang headed home the ball off Rabi Thin from inside the box in the 77th minute. Tamang replaced Pradip Lama in the 64th minute.
Second choice Suraj Gurung killed the match for Brigade in the dying minutes. Gurung, who replaced Dipesh Gurung in the 58th minute, stunned APF from the box after controlling the quick pass off Bhuwan Basnet. 

After the victory, Coach Sanoj Shrestha said their opener against APF was tough. “But winning three points in the first match was a huge relief for us,” said Shrestha.
APF Coach Kumar Thapa blamed his players for not playing as their plan. “We made a plan to hold the ball till the first half but we failed on it. It is a big blow for us,” Coach Thapa added.

 Nepal Police Club will encounter Tribhuvan Army Football Club in the first match and defending champion Machhindra Football Club will take on New Road Team in the second match on Monday.