NSL 2025 playoffs: The final league match between Dhangadhi FC and FC Chitwan has decided the four teams heading to the NSL 2025 playoffs. With the group stage wrapped up, the playoff fixtures and paths to the final are now set.
🏆 Teams Qualified for NSL 2025 Playoffs
- Lalitpur City FC
- Dhangadhi FC
- FC Chitwan
- Pokhara Thunders
🔹 Playoff Format Explained
- Qualifier 1 (Baisakh 6): Lalitpur City FC vs Dhangadhi FC
- Winner goes straight to the final
- Loser gets another chance in Qualifier 2
- Eliminator (Baisakh 7): FC Chitwan vs Pokhara Thunders
- Winner advances to Qualifier 2
- Loser is eliminated
- Qualifier 2 (Baisakh 10): Loser of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator
- Winner goes to the final
- Final Match (Baisakh 13)
🏀 Lalitpur City FC: Unbeaten Journey to the Top
Lalitpur started their title defense campaign with a 2-2 draw against Kathmandu Rayzrs and stayed unbeaten throughout the league phase. With 3 wins and 3 draws, they comfortably secured a playoff spot.
Key moments:
- Beat Pokhara Thunders 3-2 for their first win
- Narrow 2-1 win over FC Chitwan
- Sealed playoff berth early by beating Butwal Lumbini 2-0
- Played pressure-free final game, drawing 1-1 with Jhapa FC
📊 Dhangadhi FC: Solid but Missed Perfect Run
The runners-up of last season, Dhangadhi FC, were unbeaten until their final match where they lost 3-1 to FC Chitwan.
Season Summary:
- Won 3, drew 2, lost 1
- Dominant 4-1 win against Butwal Lumbini in their opener
- Back-to-back goalless draws with Lalitpur and Pokhara
- Star striker Ahmed Hijazi scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 comeback win over Kathmandu Rayzrs
- Narrow 1-0 win over Jhapa FC ensured playoff qualification
Dhangadhi fielded a rotated squad in the final match, allowing Chitwan to pull off a comeback win.
🌟 FC Chitwan: Historic First Playoff Qualification
Chitwan built a strong squad this season and aimed for their first-ever playoff appearance – and they delivered.
Highlights:
- Beat Pokhara 2-0 and Butwal Lumbini 1-0 in first two matches
- Dropped points against Jhapa after conceding a stoppage-time penalty
- Lost next two matches to Lalitpur and Kathmandu
- Needed at least a draw in their final match against Dhangadhi to qualify
- Came from behind to win 3-1 and clinched their playoff spot in style
⚽ Pokhara Thunders: Impressive Comeback
Despite losing their first two matches, Pokhara Thunders bounced back brilliantly to make it to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Comeback Story:
- Lost to Chitwan (2-0) and Lalitpur (3-2) in the opening two games
- Bounced back with a 2-0 win over Kathmandu Rayzrs
- Played back-to-back draws against Dhangadhi and Jhapa
- Secured playoff spot with a convincing 2-0 win in their final match
📈 Star Player Watch: NSL 2025 playoffs
- Ahmed Hijazi (Dhangadhi FC)
- Scored 5 goals this season, including the league’s only hat-trick
- All-time top scorer in NSL history with 9 goals
- Scored 4 goals in the previous NSL season as well
The stage is now set for an exciting NSL 2025 playoffs. Will Lalitpur defend their title, or will a new champion rise?
