Sherpa salvage draw with Army; Satdobato hold two-time defending champions Machhindra
LALITPUR, APRIL 30
Record eight-time champions Manang Marshyangdi Club faced their sixth straight defeat in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League going down 3-0 against newcomers Church Boys United, while leaders Jawalakhel shared spoils with Sankata Club on Sunday.
Ananta Tamang, Mousam Subba and Saimon Limbu scored one goal each for the United at the ANFA Complex grounds. Tamang, who returned to the squad after three matches due to groin injury, opened the scoring for United in the 41st minute when he headed home from close following a cross from Ashish Chaudhary.
United doubled the tally in the 55th minute after an excellent move initiated by Anjan Bista, who joined the team after missing eight matches because of facial injury. Bista chased a long through ball and cut back to the centre and Ranjit Singh Pandre set the goal for Subba, who fired a powerful shot into the first bar for his maiden goal in A division league. Limbu sealed the victory with his team's third goal in the injury time.
United coach Bal Gopal Maharjan lauded his boys for the excellent performance.
"I am satisfied with the team's performance in the match and I am happy that I could play the full squad for the first time since taking over the helm," said Maharjan. "We should have scored in the first 15-20 minutes against the MMC side which is morally down because of their poor run of form in the last five matches. But I am happy to get the convincing victory at the end," he added.
Asked about the team's run in the first leg, Maharjan said they were on track to fulfil the club's target of winning the league. "I came late in the club but I can say that the team has the potential to do a lot more and we need to continue this performance from the start of the second leg," he said.
National team striker Anjan Bista echoed his coach's version and praised the players for putting in their best efforts in the match. "I returned to the team after one month but I had a feeling that I can contribute in team's victory," he said. "We gave our 100 per cent in the match and we all are happy to get the win," added Bista, who played with facemask in the Three Nations Cup but was injured again. "I have fully recovered and fit to play now," he said.
MMC coach Kiran Shrestha said the team was going through hard times and all stakeholders needed to back the players. "The team received praises from all quarters when we won first seven matches. We have not been able to come out of the downfall in recent days because we missed the services of foreign players. We know we are facing tough time and the players need support from fans and management to boost their morale," he said.
Leaders JYC were held to a 1-1 draw by Sankata Club in the match that got postponed yesterday due to heavy rain.
Fode Fofana had put JYC ahead with a goal in the 33rd minute at the Chyasal Stadium.
The match was stopped in the 51st minutes and the teams returned to ANFA Complex grounds to play the remaining time. JYC failed to preserve the lead and Nishan Khadka scored the equaliser in the 73rd minute following a pass from Manish Dangi.
In another match that got postponed yesterday, Tribhuvan Army Football Club played a 1-1 draw with Himalayan Sherpa Club. The match was stopped in the 71st minute with the teams tied at 1-1 and both the teams failed to score today and they were forced to share points.
TAFC took an early lead after Nawayug Shrestha headed home a cross from Gillespye Jung Karki in the first minute of the match. The former national team skipper Shrestha netted the fastest goal of the league in the 36th second with a glancing header from close range after following a sublime cross from Karki, who dodged as many as two HSC defenders before setting the goal. HSC levelled the scores in the 55th minute when Biswas Shrestha converted a free kick from outside the box into the far post.
In the last match of the first leg, Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club held two-time defending champions Machhindra Football Club to a goalless draw at the Dasharath Stadium.
After the completion of 13 matches of the first leg, JYC accumulated 24 points and they are two points ahead of Three Star Club at the top. Satdobato, who also have 22 points, are third, while Church Boys United moved up to fourth on 21, one more than fifth-placed Tribhuvan Army FC.
Nepal APF FC are sixth ahead of Machhindra after being tied on 18 points, while Sankata and New Road Team have 16 points each. MMC and Friends are at the 10th and 11th positions respectively after being tied on 15 points, whereas Himalayan Sherpa Club are 12th on 14 points. FC Khumaltar (13) and Nepal Police Club (12) are at the relegation zone.
The second leg matches will be played from Tuesday.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 1, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
