KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 19

Himalayan Sherpa Club defeated Brigade Boys Club 3-1 for their first victory in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Mutamba Pistone Vunyou, Suresh Kumal and Manish Thapa scored one each for Himalayan Sherpa, while Bhuwan Basnet netted the consolation goal for BBC. With their first win in five matches, Himalayan Sherpa climbed up to eighth position, ahead of BBC and Nepal Police Club after being tied on five points.

Himalayan Sherpa took an early lead after Vunyou headed home following a free kick from Bishwas Shrestha in the fifth minute. BBC levelled the scores in the 55th minute through Bhuwan Basnet after he collected a pass from Shishir Lekhi and slammed past Himalayan Sherpa goalkeeper Deep Karki.

Suresh Kumar put Himalayan Sherpa ahead for the second time in the 74th minute after he was fed by Jeevan Gurung at a time when BBC custodian Anjal Shrestha had come forward to block the long ball from the other half. Mansh Thapa put the issue beyond doubt with his team's third goal in the injury time after he received a pass from his skipper Bishwas Shrestha in counter attack after Himalayan Sherpa goalkeeper Deep Karki blocked Bhuwan Basnet's header at the other end.

Himalayan Sherpa coach Yugal Kishor Rai was happy as well as relieved with the team's first victory. 'I am happy as the team is improving and I am satisfied with the overall performance of the players,' Rai said. 'We came under pressure after BBC scored an equaliser but we kept on pushing hard,' he added.

BBC coach Sanoj Shrestha said the lack of experience of goalkeeper Anjal Shrestha was the key to the opponents' success.

'We were forced to field him because of injury to our regular keeper [Purna Chemjong Limbu] and the early goal was the turning point of the match,' he added.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 20, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.