KATHMANDU, JANUARY 8
Leaders Machhindra Football Club, Manang Marshyangdi Club and Tribhuvan Army Football Club recorded victories in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League today.
Machhindra edged past Friends Club 1-0, thanks to an own goal from Ronell Anthony Paul, while Dinesh Henjan scored the solitary goal as TAFC beat New Road Team in departmental derby at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. Likewise, Afeez Olawale Oladipo netted a hat-trick as MMC thumped Chyasal Youth Club 5-0 at the Pokhara Stadium.
Defending champions Machhindra - who have already earned berth in the AFC Cup Qualifiers as the leaders upon completion of seven rounds - maintained their one-point lead over MMC at the top of the table.
With their sixth win in eight matches, Machhindra accumulated 20 points, while MMC have 19. TAFC remained at the fourth position on 14 points, behind third-placed Sankata Club, who are ahead on better goal difference.
NRT remained at the remained at the seventh position on 10 points, behind Three Star Club on inferior goal difference, while Chyasal Youth Club (five) and Friends Club (three) are at the relegation zone. Bottom two teams will be relegated to second division.
At the Dasharath Stadium, Machhindra and Friends played a goalless first half before the holders took the lead in the 67th minute. Friends defender Ronell Anthony Paul headed into the nets at a time when goalkeeper Rahul Ramchandra Yadav had come forward following a long ball from Machhindra skipper Sujal Shrestha. Yadav desperately tried to block the header from Paul but he was not able to reach the ball.
Earlier, Yadav punched out Abhishek Rijal's strike in the 45th minute, while Friends skipper Prezen Tamang's diving header went wide off the post in the first half injury time. Friends came close to scoring in the 53rd minute but unmarked Ronell Anthony Paul wasted a chance after Machhindra goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha saved his attempt without any trouble. Friends goalkeeper Yadav denied Abhishek Rijal in the 64th minute, while Machhindra striker Sunil Bal muffed up a chance from close following a pass from Manish Dangi in the 70th minute.
In another match, TAFC opened the scoring in the 17th minute and the departmental side hung on to the lead to register their third victory in eight matches. Henjan found the back of the nets with a header following a pass from George Prince Karki.
In Pokhara, Oluwawunmi Ade Somide put MMC ahead in the third minute and Afeez Olawale Oladipo doubled the tally in the 43rd minute. Dinesh Rajbanshi made it 3-0 in the 86th minute before Oladipo netted twice in the injury time to complete his hat-trick against hapless Chyasal Youth Club.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 9, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
