KATHMANDU: Machhindra Football Club has won the Martyrs' Memorial A Division League title for the second consecutive season. Machhindra defended its title by defeating Satdobato Youth Club 1-0 in the 11th round of the league.
Norlan Zahid's goal was decisive in Machhindra's victory. He scored in the 53rd minute of the game. With the win, Machhindra added 29 points from 11 games. Machhindra became the champion as they were ahead in the second place with Manang Marsyangdi Club head to head.
Machhindra is competing in the first round of the AFC Cup this season. The first round of the AFC Cup 2022 will be played at Dasharath Stadium. The match against Sri Lanka's Blue Star will be played on April 5 at 5 pm at Dasharath Stadium. Machhindra has been selected for the AFC Cup for the first time.
Machhindra has been selected in the AFC Cup as per the rules of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to send the top ranked team to the AFC Cup in the seventh round of the ongoing Martyrs' Memorial A Division League. Although he was the league champion in 2076, Machhindra was deprived of playing in the 2021 AFC Cup. The AFC had banned unlicensed clubs from playing in the tournament. Last year, the licensed Tribhuvan Army Club participated in the AFC Cup.
This year, four clubs including Army, Manang, Machhindra and APF got club licenses. Machhindra, who got his first chance to play in the AFC Cup, was promoted to A Division for the first time in 2004. In the other match of the league, Tribhuvan Army Club and Himalayan Sherpa Club have drawn one goal each.
With the draw, the Army's chances of finishing second have diminished. Third place Army has 19 points from 11 games. Second place Manang Marsyangdi Club has 20 points after playing one game less.
Sherpa is in eighth place with 13 points.
