Thakur Shrestha scored the lone goal early in the all-important match. Both teams needed a win to lift the title ahead of Birgunj Youth Club, which would have won the trophy had the match ended in a draw.[break]
In the eight-team round-robin league, MYA finished on top with 16 points, Birgunj finished runner-up with 15 points and Sankata third with 13 points. Kasturi Yuva Club of Siraha secured the fourth position on the basis of goals superiority despite having equal nine points as that of fifth-placed Tusal Yuva Club.
MYA bagged a purse of Rs 300,000 along with the trophy while Birgunj received Rs 150,000. Sankata received Rs 75,000 and Kasturi Rs 50,000.
Rupendra Shrestha and Prakash Vaidya of the winning team were declared the best defender and coach of the tournament respectively. Deepesh Yadav and Nishan Nepali of Birgunj won the awards for best goalkeeper and forward respectively. The best midfielder award went to Ajay BK of Trinity. Each of them received a cash prize of Rs 15,000.
In the match, MYA scored the decisive goal in the 10th minute as Sankata custodian Bikash Magar fell over on the slippery goalline while moving forward to handle an easy shot fired by Thakur Shrestha from 25 yards.
The victory is also a sweet revenge for MYA which was defeated 2-1 by Sankata in the Martyrs B Division League a couple of months ago. MYA had finished runner-up and got promoted to A Division.
"It is the result of our team effort," a delighted MYA coach Vaidya said after the victory. "Sankata had defeated us in the previous league and we avenged the defeat."
Vaidya also rated the B Division National League as a tough tournament. "I am very much happy for the achievement," Vaidya said, adding that the arrival of former Nepali international Nirajan Rayamajhi was the turning point for his team.
Rayamajhi had not played against Sankata in Martyrs B Division League as he joined MYA in the middle of the league. "Rayamajhi turned the tables in our favor," Vaidya said.
Rayamajhi, also the skipper of the team, said he had already achieved his target of helping the club book its place in A Division. "I returned to football after a year´s gap," said the 32-year-old former national striker. "I am proud of our achievement as it is the first major title for MYA under ANFA´s belt. Playing for MYA in B Division gave me as much pleasure as playing in A Division."
"My age still favors me and I will play a couple of more years for MYA in A Division," he added.
MYA dominated the match creating nearly half a dozen scoring chances while Sankata made only a couple of attractive moves. In the 63rd minute, MYA´s Yaman Rajbahak missed a chance to double the tally as his shot from the area rebounded off the post.
In the 89th minute, substitute Nischal Basnet´s header in Rayamajhi´s accurate cross was denied by goalie Magar.
In the 17th minute, MYA glovesman Narendra Jagebu punched Riten Shrestha´s high ball to safety. In the 84th minute, Phurba Tsering´s tight angle goal-bound shot was defended by Ganga Ram Majhi.
ANFA Vice-president Narendra Shrestha gave away the trophy, medals and certificates to the winning teams.
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