Rashmi Kumari Ghising scored five goals, including two penalties, as defending champions Armed Police Force Club destroyed Bagmati Youth Club 7-0 at the ANFA Complex in Lalitpur on Friday—ensuring that they advance into the Super League as table toppers.

Anita Basnet and Sabita Rana Magar were also on target for APF, who extended their winning streak to eight matches after playing a 0-0 draw against Nepal Police Club in their opening match.

APF, who have 25 points from nine matches, remain clear favourites to win the title as they look to win a fourth title in a row.

They have now scored a total of 53 goals against the two conceded.

Ghising has scored more than four goals in three straight games now. She also scored five against Koshi in APF’s 8-0 victory and four in APF’s 19-0 mauling of Sudurpaschim.

Ghising also leads the goal-scoring tally with 17 goals—nine more than Waling Municipality’s Jackline Nassali who is second in the list.

Ghising was unstoppable on a rainy afternoon against already eliminated Bagmati at Satdobato again, scoring twice in the space of five minutes towards the end of the first half that put APF in complete control of the game.

Her first came in the 35th minute. Anita KC was the provider as she raced into the penalty box to find a through pass from Anita Basnet, used her intelligence to trick advancing Bagmati goalkeeper Sujata Tamang and laid it for Ghising to slam into the empty net.

Ghising doubled APF’s lead in the 40th minute when her powerful header off a cross from Basnet deflected off Bagmati’s Sunita Bhulan before finding the bottom corner.

Basnet then combined with Ghising again to further APF’s lead two minutes after the restart after good works from Preeti Rai and KC.

Ghising completed her hat-trick in the 58th minute through a penalty that was awarded to APF after Bagmati captain Divya Yasmali Magar handled the ball inside the box.

More misery was piled on Bagmati after their first choice goalie Tamang had to be stretchered off after suffering an injury.

Ghising added more salt to Bagmati wounds, converting another penalty past substitute goalkeeper Karun Budhathoki in the 82nd minute after Bhulan handled the ball.

Ghising then netted her fifth in the 88th minute poking home a powerful shot from close range after Saru Limbu set her up.

Rana Magar rounded off a comprehensive victory for APF, tapping a cross from Rai.

Army hit five past Karnali

Tribhuvan Army Club finished the first round in the second position on 22 points with a 5-0 thrashing of Karnali Province later in the afternoon.

Army, who are looking to win their maiden title, are the other high-scoring team in the league and showed their firepower going up 3-0 after 12 minutes, with Chandra Bhandari, Bimala Chaudhary and Amisha Karki finding the net.

Dipa Shahi and Dipa Rai added Army’s fourth and fifth in the second half to complete a comfortable win.

Army have scored a total of 51 goals from their nine games. They have conceded four.

Nepal Police Club, who have also qualified for the second round, take on Sankata in the last fixture of the first round on Saturday.

Waling Municipality and Koshi Province are the other teams to have progressed into the Super League, which will be played in a double round robin format.

The top four teams in the Super League will play Qualifiers, Eliminator and Final.