KATHMANDU, APRIL 13
Friends Club salvaged a 1-1 draw with Church Boys United, while Three Star Club defeated Nepal Police Club 1-0 in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here today.
At the Dasharath Stadium, Jospeh Owusu Bempah scored for United in the first half and Amit Tamang netted the equaliser from the spot in the latter half as the top flight newcomers United extended their unbeaten streak to eight matches - three wins and five draws.
United remained at the fourth place behind Jawalakhel Youth Club and ahead of Three Star Club after all three teams were tied on 14 points. Friends moved one place up to 13th in the 14-team table with five points, while NPC dropped down to bottom with four points.
Bempah opened the scoring for United in the 21st minute when he shot over advancing goalkeeper Bishal Sunar following a long pass from Sushil Shah. Friends earned a spot kick after Manoj Rai brought down Rafiq Aminu inside the box in his bid to stop him from going ahead and Amit Tamang converted the resulting penalty to level the scores.
Earlier, United's Sushil Shah headed wide off the post on a free kick from Arik Bista in the fifth minute, while Ashish Chapagain failed to score in one-on-one situation with Friends custodian Bishal Sunar as the ball hit the outstretched hands of the goalkeeper.
In the first half injury time, Friends forward Torric Jebrin did well to dodge two defenders and took the ball inside the box but he ended up with a feeble shot that went directly into the hands of United goalkeeper Guillaume Yves Priso Njanga.
Ben Nash Quansah of Friends found the back of the nets with a header following a free kick from Buddharaj Limbu after the resumption but the goal was ruled offside. United goalkeeper Priso rescued his team in the 75th minute when he made a diving save to deny Rafiq Aminu's header on Amit Tamang's free kick in the 75th minute.
In the 79th minute, Friends goalkeeper Bishal Sunar denied United's new recruit Ranjeet Singh Pandre, who made a left-foot shot from inside the box on a pass from Kamal Shrestha. The United came close to taking the lead four minutes from end but Milan Rai shot off the target after collecting a loose ball from Friends defender Pream Bahadur Bhandari.
In the day's other match at the ANFA Complex, Three Star defeated Nepal Police Club. Martins Kayode Ajayi scored the solitary goal of the match. After a goalless first half, Ajayi found the back of the nets in the 65th minute and it was enough for Three Star to record their fourth victory of the campaign.
After the completion of the eighth round, Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club are at the top of the table with 16 points, one more than second-placed Manang Marshyangdi Club. JYC, United and Three Star have 14 points each, while three other teams - Tribhuvan Army Football Club, two-time defending champions Machhindra FC and Sankata - are tied on 12 points.
Nepal APF Football Club are at the ninth place with 11 points, while Himalayan Sherpa Club are next on nine. Newcomers FC Khumaltar are 11th on seven, followed by New Road Team (six). Friends (five) and NPC (four) are at the relegation zone. The ninth round will begin on Saturday.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 14, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
