Reigning champions Armed Police Force delivered a stellar show to reaffirm their dominance in the ANFA Women’s League, dismantling Nepal Police Club 6-0 at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur on Thursday.

Anita Basnet scored a sublime hat-trick as APF stormed to the top of Super League standings with a perfect nine points from three matches. Saru Limbu added a brace, while Renuka Nagarkoti also got on the scoresheet to cap off an emphatic victory for the three-time defending champions.

The outcome extended APF’s winning streak to 11 matches and now leaves them as the only unbeaten team in the league, underlining their status as clear favourites for the title.

The top two teams at the end of the double round robin league advance to Qualifier 1, where they play for a direct berth in the final. The third-placed and fourth-placed teams battle in the Eliminator, with the winners facing the losing side of Qualifier 1 for the remaining spot in the Championship match.

APF’s next fixture is against Tribhuvan Army Club, who will be looking to exact revenge for their 2-1 defeat against Jibesh Kumar Pandey’s team in the first round. Army, still awaiting their first title, are in the second position with seven points from three matches. Four-time winners Police, also on seven points, remain in third position after a lacklustre display.

APF’s only draw in the tournament came in a goalless stalemate against Police in the opening match, and Bhola Nath Silwal’s Police were expected to present a tough challenge.

But Thursday’s encounter proved to be anything but as APF ran rampant from the beginning.

Basnet opened the scoring in the 11th minute after unfortunate Police goalkeeper Usha Nath misjudged a high ball that dropped just outside the box, allowing it to bounce into the net.

Police had a rare chance to equalise moments later when a defensive error from Pratikshya Chaudhary gave Nirmala Upadhyaya a free scoring opportunity but the forward’s rushed attempt went over the bar, which proved to be a costly miss.

Nagarkoti doubled Police’s lead in the 37th minute with a beautifully crafted team goal. After Nagarkoti and Rashmi Kumari Ghising combined to push the attack into the penalty area, Preeti Rai set Limbu up, whose left-footed shot from inside the penalty deflected off Samikshya Ghimire and fell back to Rai, who then cut back for Nagarkoti for a suburb finish.

Police were lacklustre after the interval as well and completely ran out of gas in the final moments, and APF mauled them with four more goals.

APF scored their third in the 86th minute when Limbu outran Police defenders and tapped in a pinpoint cross from Sabita Rana Magar.

Limbu struck again a minute later from a tight angle after Anita KC outsmarted Police defenders to set her up.

Basnet added more salt to Police wounds in the third minute of the stoppage time taking advantage of a defensive lapse from Revika Pandey. Pandey’s poor attempt to clear a cross from KC found Basnet unmarked and the striker drove a low ball past Nath from near the area.

Basnet then completed her hat-trick shortly after with a half volley, served on a platter by Limbu.