KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 17
Nepal APF Club came from a goal down to record a 3-1 stunning victory over Manang Marshyangdi Club, while New Road Team defeated Sankata Club 1-0 in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League here today.
With their third win in 11 matches, APF accumulated 14 points to confirm their stay in top flight, while MMC remained at the second position with 20 points. Defending Champions Machhindra FC have already sealed the title and are at the top with 29 points.
Tribhuvan Army FC are third on 19 one more than Three Star Club. NRT moved up to fifth with 17 points after they recorded their fourth victory in the league. Sankata dropped to sixth on 15 points.
Newcomers Satdobato Youth Club also have 15 points but they are behind Sankata on inferior gal difference, while APF moved up to eighth place with 14 points.
Himalayan Sherpa Club (13), Nepal Police Club (11), Jawalakhel Youth Club (10), Friends Club (seven), Brigade Boys Club (seven) and Chyasal Youth Club (six) are in relegation zone. Bottom two teams will be relegated to second division after 13 rounds.
At the Dasharath Stadium, Manang took the lead through skipper Anjan Bista's goal in the 36th minute after he headed home following a long ball from goalkeeper Bishal Sunar at a time when APF custodian Yuya Kuriyama had come forward to block the attempt.
Aashish Lama levelled the scores four minutes later when he dodged MMC defender Narendra Chaudhary and goalkeeper Bishal Sunar after collecting a pass from his skipper Nabin Lama.
APF came back as a more organised side in the second half and they were able to score two goals to stun eighttime champions Manang.
Substitute Mani Kumar Lama put APF ahead in the 82nd minute before skipper Nabin Lama sealed the victory with his side's third goal four minutes before the end when he found the back of the nets after Aashish Lama's initial attempt rebounded to play.
In another match at the ANFA Complex grounds, NRT edged past Sankata riding on a solitary goal from Stephane Samir Dieubeni Binong. The foreign recruit controlled the long pass from Saroj Tamang before slamming home under pressure from two Sankata defenders in the 28th minute.
The win sent NRT to fifth position, ahead of Sankata.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 18, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
