Three Star edge past JYC; Sankata, Chyasal share spoils
KATHMANDU, JANUARY 1
Manang Marshyangdi Club stayed alive in the race to earn berth in the AFC Cup Qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over Brigade Boys Club, while Three Star Club defeated Jawalakhel Youth Club 2-1 for their second win in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League today.
Anjan Bista scored the solitary goal of the match at the Pokhara Stadium as MMC moved to the top of the table with 16 points from seven matches. Machhindra FC, who were not in action today, slipped to second on 14 but the defending champions have one match on hand. Machhindra can earn the AFC Cup Qualifiers berth with a win against Nepal Police Club on Sunday, while a stalemate or loss will see MMC taking the opportunity.
MMC skipper Bista found the back of the nets with a header in the first minute of the first half injury time and that was enough for them to take all three points. Earlier, BBC missed a penalty kick in 17th minute after Shishir Lekhi wasted the shot from the spot.
At the Dasharath Stadium, Three Star went 2-0 ahead inside 26 minutes. Ayush Ghalan put Three Star ahead in the seventh minute on a pass from Sajok Rai, who controlled a header from Ghanefo Ansumana Kromha following a free kick from skipper Bikram Lama. Ritik Kumar Khadka doubled the tally in the 26th minute after being fed by Ghalan, who received the ball from Kromha.
JYC cut the deficit in the 56th minute through Nicholas Fernandes when the unmarked midfielder slammed home from inside the box on a pass from Santa Bahadur Gurung.
The second win took Three Star to fifth position with 10 points, while JYC remained at ninth on seven points.
JYC coach Kishor Kumar KC was furious with the referees and called the All Nepal Football Association to be fair to all the teams. "I don't know what to say but I am not okay with the decisions of the referee, especially towards the end of the match," said KC. "And I think the second goal scored by Three Star was also an offside goal. You all can see that in video replays," he added. "My boys played better than the opponents and I am satisfied with their performance."
Asked about not including Suraj Jeu Thakuri in the squad, KC said the player breached team discipline by not attending the training session. "Anyone who does not train with the team will not find his place in the 23-man squad," he said.
Thakuri and club have been at loggerheads off late with the coach openly criticising the player for not putting in his best efforts and KC replaced him in the second half in their 2-0 win over Satdobato Youth Club in the previous round last week. But he refused to speak on the matter further. "Please do not link this with anything else as I did not include him in today's line-up simply because he did not follow the instructions regarding team training session," he added.
In another match, Sankata Club and Chyasal Youth Club played a goalless draw. Sankata remained at the third position with 13 points, while Chyasal eked out their second stalemate to remain at the 13th position behind BBC after being tied on five points. Chyasal fielded their prominent striker Santosh Sahukhala, who arrived on Thursday from Japan to play for the club. Sahukhala is the lone Nepali striker to complete 100 goals in Martyrs Memorial League.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 2, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
