KATHMANDU, MAY 18

Jawalakhel Youth Club played a 1-1 draw with New Road Team, while Machhindra FC and Friends Club settled for 2-2 stalemate and Sankata salvaged a 2-2 draw with Manang Marshyangdi Club in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here today.

Jawalakhel squandered the lead and they missed a chance to regain the lead as NRT hit back with an equaliser in the second half. JYC stayed at the second position with 32 points from 19 matches and they are two points behind leader Church Boys United, who have played one match less.

NRT are seventh on 23 points. Sunil Khadka put JYC ahead in rebound when he found the back of the nets in the 37th minute after Nkoto Synous Masoabi's initial attempt was blocked by NRT defenders.

Lalnunzama levelled the scores five minutes into the second half, also in rebound.

JYC defender Dipesh Ale Magar blocked Kritish Ratna Chhunju's cross and Lalnunzama slotted home from inside the box.

NRT coach Raju Kaji Shakya said he was satisfied with the team's overall performance.

'The results did not come our way as expected but I am happy,' said Shakya. 'The players have not been able to establish smooth coordination, especially among midfielders and forwards, And we also have problems in defense line. The strikers are scoring goals regularly but we have been conceding unnecessary goals due to poor marking.' JYC coach Sunil Shrestha said the players were tired due to hectic schedule.

'The players have not been able to perform to their potential and a couple of team members are injured because of the tight fixtures. The players do not get adequate time to recover as we have been forced to play matches every third day,' he said.

Earlier, two-time defending champions Machhindra salvaged a 2-2 draw with Friends.

After a goalless first half, Friends took the lead twice through Prakash Budhathoki and Rafiq Aminu but Machhindra hit back with a brace from Afeez Olawale Oladipo.

Friends took the lead in the 67th minute when substitute Budhathoki found the back of the nets after he dodged past defender Diwakar Chaudhary and scored from tight angle.

Machhindra levelled scores three minutes later when Oladipo headed home following a corner from Yuta Suzuki.

Aminu restored Friends' lead in the 79th minute when he controlled a cross from Angel Maharjan after Machhindra defender Devendra Tamang failed to clear the ball and the foreign recruit slammed into the far post. Oladipo scored his second goal of the match to level the scores four minutes later following a long pass from Chhiring Gurung.

Oladipo moved to the top of the highest scorers' list with 14 goals from 15 matches. Nkoto Synous Masoabi of JYC and Messouke Olomou of FC Khumaltar are one goal behind Oladipo, while Aminu and Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club's Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri have scored 12 goals each.

With the draw, Machhindra remained at third place with 31 points, while Friends are at the relegation zone with 21 points and they are four points above bottom-side Khumaltar.

At the Chyasal Stadium, MMC settled for a 2-2 draw with Sankata Club. Koffi Timothee Koudo scored a brace for MMC, who failed to preserve their lead twice. Koudo put MMC ahead in the 19th minute before Youssef Atriss levelled the scores for Sankata in the 44th minute.

Koudo restored MMC's lead moments before the first half whistle but they failed to maintain the lead for the second time. Manish Dangi made it 2-2 in the 52nd minute as the two sides shared one point each. With their fifth consecutive draw, MMC are at the seventh place with 23 points, while Sankata are one spot behind on 22 points.

A version of this article appears in the print on May 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.