Nepal Premie League: Church Boys United 2-1 Kankre Bihar Club. The league fixture kicked off at 12:15 PM on March 12, 2026, at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu, offering a closely fought contest. Church Boys United edged Kankre Bihar Club 2-1 in a match that had implications for the mid-table standings.
Church Boys United secured a vital 2-1 win, moving them up the Nepal Premie League table with a hard-fought performance. The decisive moment came in the 75th minute when midfielder Rajesh Gurung curled a free-kick into the top corner, breaking a 1-1 deadlock and earning his side all three points in a competitive encounter.
The match unfolded with Church Boys taking an early lead in the 25th minute, as striker Anil Shrestha tapped in from a low cross after sustained pressure. Kankre Bihar Club responded resiliently, equalizing just before halftime through forward Bikram Thapa, who capitalized on a defensive mix-up to slot home. The second half saw both teams trade chances, with Church Boys' goalkeeper Sanjay Rai making a crucial save in the 60th minute before Gurung's winner sealed the deal.
Focus points included a standout performance from Church Boys' Rajesh Gurung, who dictated play from midfield and scored the winner, earning redemption after a quiet first half. Controversy arose in the 50th minute when Kankre Bihar had a goal disallowed for offside after a tight VAR review, sparking debates among fans. The physical battle in midfield defined the game, with both sides committing numerous fouls.
This result impacted the league table significantly, lifting Church Boys United to sixth place with 18 points, while Kankre Bihar Club remained in the relegation zone at 11th with only 8 points, increasing their urgency for points in upcoming matches.
Post-match, Church Boys coach Mohan Kumar stated, "We showed great spirit today. Rajesh's moment of quality made the difference, and we defended well under pressure." Kankre Bihar manager Suresh Yadav commented, "The disallowed goal was a turning point. We need to be more clinical; it's a tough loss but we'll fight on."
The starting XIs featured Church Boys United in a 4-2-3-1: GK Rai; defenders Tamang, Ghale, Basnet, KC; defensive mids Gurung, Thapa; attacking mids Shrestha, Limbu, Bhandari; striker Magar. Kankre Bihar Club lined up in a 4-4-2: GK Shah; defenders Yadav, Raut, Karki, Pandey; midfielders Singh, Adhikari, Chauhan, Mishra; forwards Thapa, Rana.