KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 19
Friends Club defeated Chyasal Youth Club 2-1 in the relegation battle, while champions Machhindra Football Club maintained their unbeaten record with a 1-0 victory over Three Star Club in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
With their second win, Friends accumulated 10 points from 12 matches and they are tied with Jawalakhel Youth Club, who have two matches in hand. Chyasal, meanwhile, were confirmed to drop down to B division after they earned six points from 12 matches. Brigade Boys Club (seven) are at the 13th place in the 14-team table and they have two matches to play.
Chyasal finished as a mid-table team in their two previous appearances in the top flight football but this time around the management was not able to maintain their status and the club could record just one victory in 12 matches. Their lone victory came against Nepal APF Club, while they faced defeat at the hands of Machhindra, Nepal Police Club , Manang Marshyangdi Club, Himalayan Sherpa Club, Jawalakhel Youth Club, Tribhuvan Army FC and Three Star.
On Saturday, Friends forward Jamoul Anthony Francois scored a brace, while Moussa Abagana replied for Chyasal.
Francois netted two goals in the space of five minutes as Friends took a 2-0 lead in the first half. Fed by skipper Nathaniel Jude Garcia, the striker beat Chyasal defender Abhishek Limbu and scored in an open net at a time when goalkeeper Pradeep Bhandari had come forward in the 38th minute.
Francois doubled the tally five minutes later from the spot. Friends earned the penalty after Abhishek Limbu brought Francois down inside the box. Chyasal reduced the deficit 11 minutes into the second half. Friends goalkeeper Rahul Ramchandra Yadav brought Chyasal forward Rajiv Lopchan inside the box and Abagana converted the resulting penalty.
Chyasal had a chance to level the scores in the injury time of the match but Kushal Phuyal headed directly into the hands of Friends custodian Yadav.
In another match, skipper Sujal Shrestha scored from the spot in the injury time as Machhindra maintained their unbeaten run. At a time when the match was heading towards a goalless draw, Mchhindra earned a penalty in the third minute of the added-on time after Three Star substitute defender Jeevan Gurung brought down Abhishek Gurung inside the box.
Jeevan Gurung, who replaced Ayush Ghalan in the second half, protested the decision of referee Prakash Nath Shrestha and was expelled for the misbehave.
Machhindra skipper Sujan Shrestha converted the penalty to seal his side's 10th victory.
Machhindra, who have already successfully defended the league title, accumulated 32 points, while Three Star missed a chance to move to second position and remained fourth in 18 points. Manang are second on 20 points, one more than third-placed Tribhuvan Army FC.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 20, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
