Kathmandu: Holders Lalitpur City FC retained the Nepal Super League with a 2-1 victory over Pokhara Thunders in the final of the franchise football tournament at the Dasharath Stadium, Tripureshwar, on Saturday.

Foreign recruits Imoh Ezekiel and Papa Ibou Kebe were on target either side of the halftime for Lalitpur. Sudil Rai replied for Pokhara before they conceded the second.

Champions Lalitpur, who came into the match on a high morale remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament, will receive a purse of Rs8 million while runners up Pokhara will get Rs3 million.

Nigerian forward Imoh broke the deadlock for Lalitpur with a bouncing header to turn in a precise cross by Santosh Khatri from the area.

Lalitpur came closer to scoring yet again three minutes into second half only for Kervens Belfort to end up tapping inches wide from range in a cross by Imoh. In the 61st Imoh again slammed on the woodwork.

Pokhara brought the game on level terms in the 63rd through Sudil Rai. The forward fired a ball parried by goalie Jeffery Willy who blocked a powerful header by Stephane Samir in a cross by Padam Bhattarai.

Papa Ibou Kebe restored lead for Lalitpur in the 74th punishing inattentive Pokhara defenders. He quickly unleashed a powerful scorcher near from the penalty spot when he found a pass by Imoh to stun the diving custodian Guillaume Priso.