KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 20
Jawalakhel Youth Club defeated Himalayan Sherpa Club 2-1 to strengthen their chance of avoiding relegation, while New Road Tea, stunned Manang Marshyangdi Club in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Rup Bahadur Lama and Onguna Nkengue Junior scored for JYC, while Amrit Shrestha replied for Himalayan Sherpa. The win lifted JYC to ninth place on 13 points and Lalitpur-based team all but secured the top stay. Sherpa, who also have 13 points, dropped down to 10th position.
With their fifth victory in 12 matches, NRT made a huge stride in the table moving five places up to second with 20 points. Manang, who also have 20 points from 12 matches, dropped to third.
Tribhuvan Army Football Club are fourth on 19 points from 11 games, while Three Star Club are fifth on 18.
Sankata Club and newcomers Satdobato Youth Club have 15 points each, one more than Nepal APF Club.
Nepal Police Club (11), Friends Club (10) and Brigade Boys Club (seven) are behind Himalayan Sherpa and they are in danger zone, whereas bottom team Chyasal Youth Club (six) have already been relegated to B division with one match to remaining.
On Sunday, JYC took the lead in the 15th minute after Rup Bahadur Lama converted a corner kick into a goal.
Amrit Shrestha levelled the scores with a stunning overhead kick from inside the box in the 71st minute following a corner from Bishon Gurung.
Onguna Nkengue Junior then netted the winning goal two minutes before the end to seal JYC's victory.
In another match, Messouke Etiegne Oloumou scored the solitary goal as NRT walked away with full three points. Oloumou controlled the free kick from Arik Bista and slotted home from inside the box leaving MMC goalkeeper Ashok Baral stranded.
Earlier, NRT came close to opening the scores in the 15th minute but MMC goalkeeper Ashok Baral made a spectacular save to deny Sanam Sodemba Limbu. MMC skipper Bimal Rana headed inches wide off the post on a cross from Deepak Rai in the 34th minute. NRT keeper Pujan Hona denied Bimal Rana with a timely dive in the 42nd minute, while Oloumou had his goal-bound shot deflected to MMC's Franklin Kuete Talla three minutes later.
In the second half, MMC goalkeeper Baral denied Rajesh Pariyar in one-on-one situation in the 53rd minute, while the custodian punched out a powerful shot from NRT skipper Darshan Gurung in the 74th minute.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 21, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
