Army Dominates as NRT Climbs: A Definitive Wrap of the National League Matchday
KATHMANDU – Dasharath Stadium hosted a high-stakes triple-header today. The matches featured clinical finishing, tactical discipline, and a frustrating stalemate for the league's heavyweights. Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) and New Road Team (NRT) solidified their positions near the summit. Meanwhile, Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) ended the evening rueing missed opportunities. **Army March Past Struggling Nava Janajagriti** Tribhuvan Army Club opened with an efficient 3-0 win over struggling Nava Janajagriti Youth Club. The "Armymen" wasted no time asserting dominance—George Prince Karki broke through the defense and scored in the 9th minute to set the tone. The Army’s constant high pressure forced a turnover, allowing Nawayug Shrestha to double the lead in the 54th minute. Kunsang Lama struck in the 76th minute to seal the win, ensuring Army moves to 17 points from eight matches. Nava Janajagriti, still winless after eight straight losses, remain at the bottom of the table without a single point.  **NRT Overcomes Own-Goal Setback to Edge Chitlang FC** New Road Team (NRT) secured a crucial 2-1 win over Chitlang FC, though not without challenge. NRT took the lead in the 10th minute through Rajiv Lopchan, marking the game's first breakthrough. The match turned in the 37th minute when Sanam Sodemba Limbu's own goal brought Chitlang level. In the second half, NRT regained control: Timothy Chiemerie Okereke's precise strike in the 54th minute restored their advantage. This victory, their fifth, lifts NRT to 19 points from nine matches, while Chitlang stays in the lower half with 7 points.  **Stalemate at the Summit: Manang and Planning Boys Share Spoils** The floodlit finale failed to produce the goals fans expected, as Manang Marshyangdi Club and Planning Boys United played out a tactical 0-0 draw. Despite both sides creating half-chances, the defensive lines stayed organised for the full 90 minutes, with Manang’s best opportunity coming from a set-piece in the 65th minute, denied by the Planning Boys’ goalkeeper. For Manang, the draw feels like two points dropped in the title race. Planning Boys will likely view the clean sheet against MMC as a hard-earned tactical victory, having withstood late pressure. Both sides walked away with a point, keeping the mid-table battle tightly contested as the league heads into its next phase.
