Kathmandu, Sept. 8: Defending champions of the ANFA Women´s League, APF Club, registered their first win in the 2081 season. APF defeated Tribhuvan Army Club in a departmental derby played at ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur, on Saturday.

Army was defeated 2-1 by the defending champs in the final match of Round 2. APF now has four points in two matches; they played a goalless draw against Nepal Police Club in Round 1. Army, on the other hand, faced their first loss after a win in Round 1.

The favourites of the tournament, APF saw their goal tally extend on Saturday as Sabita Rana Magar disallowed the first half to end goalless. Sabita scored in the injury time of the first half to give APF the lead.

Army had enough ball possession in the first half, could  make combinations but failed to convert them. 

Army´s assistant coach Tek Bahadur Budhathoki, in the post-match conference, stressed that the inability to convert the chances in the first half was a major setback.

Meanwhile, Army made the match interesting as the viewers expected from the derby after equalising in the second half. Bimala Chaudhary scored the leveller for Army in the 56th minute.

Nevertheless, Army gave away a penalty 10 minutes later allowing APF to take a lead once again. Army´s goalie Anjana Rana Magar gave the penalty after she fouled Anita KC in a one-on-one.

APF´s coach Jibesh Pandey expressed that his team was improving further and connection between players intensified with every match.

After the end of Roud 2, Koshi Province tops the table with 6 points. Alongside Koshi and APF, Police and Waling emerged victorious in Round 2. Chandrapur and Sankata played the only draw in the round.

Round 3 of the League starts with Koshi facing Karnali in the first match of Sunday. It will be followed by Bagmati Youth Club vs Nepal Police Club.