JYC stand tall among four Lalitpur clubs
Kathmandu, August 30:
Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) conceded a late goal to settle for a 1-1 draw with Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) while New Road Team (NRT) blanked Brigade Boys Club (BBC) 6-0 in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League Football Tournament here today.
JYC’s Nigerian Jude Onyewuenyi put the Lalitpur club ahead in the 45th minute, and the match was heading towards the end when RCT’s Milan Shrestha scored the equaliser.
In the other match, NRT skipper Narendra Shrestha netted two goals, and Sunil Subedi, Yugal Kishor Rai, Sanjeev Budhathoki got one goal each. The sixth goal of NRT came through BBC’s Laxman Lama.
Onyewuenyi gave JYC a lead when his left-foot shot, following Susan Bhandari’s pass, beat RCT keeper Dilip Chhetri. JYC should have earned the full three points but the weak defence-line cost them the two points.
However, JYC became the only team among four Lalitpur clubs to earn a point in the first round, after BBC lost in the day’s second match. Defending champions Nabil Three Star Club were beaten by Gyanendra APF Officers’ Club, while Friends’ went down to Boys’ Union Club.
Milan Shrestha stole the show for RCT men when he snatched the equaliser with a powerful shot from six yards in the 89th.
JYC almost took lead in the 17th minute, but Tilak Magar failed to connect on Krishna Lama’s cross. Fed by Milan Shrestha, Rishi Rai of RCT came close to scoring in the 39th minute, but JYC goalkeeper Mohammad Nijamuddin saved his close-range attempt. Nijamuddin was spectacular in the 58th minute, when he punched out Rishi Rai’s header.
JYC’s Dipesh Thapa broke into the RCT defence and fired a curling right-footer, but custodian Dilip Chhetry gathered the ball with ease. In the other match, NRT took an early lead through Sunil Subedi, who joined NRT from Boys’ Union Club, in the fifth minute following a pass from his skipper Narendra Shrestha. Fed by Jeevan Sinkeman, who sat in the Three Star bench throughout the last season, Yugal Kishor Rai doubled the tally in the 13th minute. Narendra made it 3-0 four minutes later on Yugal Kishor Rai’s assist, while Sanjeev Budhathoki added another in the 36th minute following a corner kick from Subash Rai. BBC’s Laxman Lama scored a suicide goal to add one more in the NRT’s account. Yugal Kishor’s attempt rebounded to play hitting BBC goalkeeper Ameet Gurung and found Lama’s legs to deflect and enter the post.
NRT skipper Narendra scored his second and team’s sixth goal in the 79th minute when he found the net in his solo effort.
Today’s matches
• Sankata vs Gyanendra APF Club @ 2pm
• Three Star vs Bouddha Football Club @ 4pm