Kathmandu, April 18
Tribhuvan Army Football Club defeated Manang Marshyangdi Club 1-0 and New Road Team outplayed FC Khumalar 3-1 in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Substitute player Sudil Rai scored the solitary goal of the match in the second half to help the departmental side move up to fourth place in the table. Both Army and MMC have 15 points and the TAFC are ahead on head-tohead results.
After a goalless draw in the first half, Rai - who came in place of Gillespye Jung Karki in the 36th minute - found the back of the nets in the 75th minute when he slammed home from close range after MMC defender Jeevan Gurung failed to clear the ball on a free kick from Jagajeet Shrestha.
Earlier, Nawayug Shrestha muffed up an opportunity in the second minute after Jagajeet Shrestha snatched the ball from Ashish Gurung and passed it to the TAFC striker. TAFC goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu denied Koffi Timothee Koudo in the 27th minute, while MMC custodian and skipper Deep Karki made a diving save to stop a shot from Dinesh Henjan. In the 63rd minute, Deepak Gurung headed towards the goal on a corner from Jagajeet Shrestha but MMC goalkeeper Karki somehow managed to get his hands to the ball to send it for corner.
MMC came close to levelling the scores in the 82nd minute but Koudu wasted a chance at a time when TAFC goalkeeper Kuthu had come forward. Sudil Rai had a chance to score in second goal of the match in the injury time but he failed to the find the back of the nets from six-yard box on a pass from Jagajeet Shrestha.
Earlier, New Road Team defeated newcomers FC Khumaltar 3-1 to move out of relegation zone. Saroj Tamang, Sanjeeb Bista and Mohit Gurung scored for NRT, while Shyamu Murmu netted the consolation goal for Khumaltar. The win means it's all 10 for NRT - 10th position with 10 points from 10 matches. Khumaltar, who also have 10 points, slipped to 11th position.
After a frustrating first half, Saroj Tamang opened the scoring for NRT with a header following a cross from Susan Shrestha in the 57th minute. Sanjeeb Bista doubled the tally in the 82nd minute after Kritish Ratna Chhunju beat as many as two defenders before setting the ball for Bista.
NRT substitute Mohit Gurung put the issue beyond doubt with the team's third goal after he beat past Khumaltar goalkeeper Dev Limbu on a pass from Chhunju five minutes before the end.
Shyamu Murmu scored the consolation goal for the top flight newcomers following a pass from Jay Gurung in the 90th minute.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 19, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
