Kathmandu, Dec. 14 -- Lumbini Lions' journey in the second season felt like a script made in heaven.

The Lions had finished bottom in the inaugural season of the Nepal Premier League as they could manage only one win-against Chitwan Rhinos in their fifth match-in seven matches. But the second season started with a win for the Lions-against the same Chitwan Rhinos on November 20.

After the win over the Rhinos in the second season, Lumbini's skipper Rohit Kumar Paudel had said that they would do better this time. But the Lions went on to suffer three straight defeats after that-to Karnali Yaks, Kathmandu Gorkhas and Sudurpaschim Royals.

This raised concerns that the Lions would not enter the playoffs as one of the top four teams in the s...