Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 2:

Santosh KC headed in the second half equaliser to help Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) hold Friends Club to a 1-1 draw in the day’s match of the Martyrs’ Memorial Everest League ‘A’ Division Football Tournament here today. The draw was third in a row for JYC, while Friends Club collected five points from three matches to remain in the fifth position. Friends Club took lead in the 22nd minute through Rabin Byanjankar’s spectacular goal. Byanjankar netted one of the best goals in the league when his left-footer from outside the D-box hit the roof of the net via top corner of the post. JYC goalkeeper Bikash Malla, who signed with JYC for a record-equalling Rs 1,00,000 just before the league, gave a desperate try but ended up colliding with the post.

In the technically sound match, JYC levelled the score through header Santosh KC in the six minutes into the second half following a cross from Bikash Subba. Both the teams tried hard to score in both the halves, but the teams, looking for win to move up in the standings, were compelled to share points due to the lack of finishing and a couple of brilliant saves by the custodians. In the fifth minute, Rojit KC of JYC hit the inner part of the cross bar in a free kick, but Friends Club were lucky enough as the ball rebounded to play, while JYC glovesman Bikash Malla brilliantly punched out Friends Club striker Birat Thapa’s close-range shot two minutes later.

Friends Club almost took lead in the 10th minute, but Rabin Byanjankar’s 20-yarder shot on Birat Thapa’s cross went inches above the cross bar. JYC’s Santosh KC also ended up with a wide shot on Gaurav Thapa’s pass in the 25th minute. JYC’s Gaurav Thapa — elder son of ANFA president Ganesh Thapa — almost levelled the score in the 36th minute, but his header on Rojit KC’s cross was savd by Friends Club goalkeeper Rajiv Shrestha. In the 62nd minute, JYC goalkeeper Bikash Malla saved his team from loss as he denied Birat Thapa, who followed Rabin Byanjankar’s cross inside the D-Box. In the 75th minute, Rabin Byanjankar missed a free header on Rishee Rai’s pass. JYC again proved to be unlucky as Santosh KC’s close-range attempt on Birat Thapa’s cross hit the cross bar in the 80th minute, while Rabin Dangol of Friends Club failed to convert in one-to-one situation with Bikash Malla in the 42nd minute. Rabin Byanjankar of Friends Club was booked.