KATHMANDU, MAY 3

Manang Marshyangdi Club ended their six-match losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Tribhuvan Army Football Club in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here today.

In other matches, Church Boys United came from a goal down to beat Friends Club 2-1, while Himalayan Sherpa Club stunned Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club 1-0. The results meant United moved to second position after being tied on 24 points with leaders Jawalakhel Youth Club.

Satdobato missed the chance to regain the top spot following the draw and they remained fourth on 22, one point behind third-placed Three Star Club. Tribhuvan Army FC remained at the fifth position with 20 points, while record eight-time champions MMC moved six places up to sixth with 18 points.

MMC are tied with seventh-placed Nepal APF Football Club and two-time defending champions Machhindra FC, who are at the eighth position. Himalayan Sherpa moved up to ninth with 17 points, while Friends remained at the relegation zone with 15 points, one more than bottom side FC Khumaltar in the 14-team table.

At the Dasharath Stadium, MMC needed a late winner from Koffi Timothee Koudo to end their six-match losing streak. At a time when the match was heading towards the end, Koudo produced the moment of brilliance. Fed by Bijay Shrestha at the edge of the box, Koudo thwarted the challenge from two TAFC defenders before firing past goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu in the second minute of the injury time.

MMC's interim coach Prabin Shrestha lauded his team's performance and dedicated the win to former coach Kiran Shrestha, who resigned from the post after the team suffered six straight defeat in the last match of the first leg. 'The players put up a good show today and it is the outcome of the hard work put in by our coach Kiran Shrestha. The full credit must go to him,' said the goalkeeping coach Shrestha. 'We needed this win desperately as we came into the match with six straight losses. And I am grateful to the players for the victory,' he added.

TAFC coach Nabin Neupane rued the missed the opportunities. 'MMC was a different team in the first 15-20 minutes and we were able to thwart their pressure. After they slowed down, we built our game and put pressure on them. But the forward line failed to utilise the chances that came their way,' said Neupane. 'We needed these three points to make a move up in the table but we have not been able to grab the chances,' added the former national team midfielder. Asked about Bikash Khawas, who went knee surgery yesterday after recurring the injury, Neupane said he would be out for at least nine months. 'We missed his services in the day's match along with other key players. We have been trying with different players but have not been able to find the answers properly,' said Neupane.

Earlier, Church Boys United scored two goals in the last three minutes to record a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Friends at the Dasharath Stadium. Ben Nash Quansah put Friends ahead in the 14th minute with a header on Dona Thapa's free kick.

Star striker Anjan Bista levelled the scores from the spot in the 87th minute. Quansah and Prem Bahadur Bhandari brought down Ranjit Singh Pandre inside the box and Bista converted the resulting penalty. Substitute Ashish Chapagain netted the winner in the first minute of the injury time following a pass from Mousam Subba after Friends defenders failed to clear the ball on Kamal Shrestha's corner.

At the Chyasal Stadium, Himalayan Sherpa defeated Satdobato 1-0 riding on Khamir Gilsan Kandangwa's goal. After a goalless first half, Kandangwa found the back of the nets in the 66th minute to help his team record fourth victory in 14 matches.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 4, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.