KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 8
Defending champions Machhindra Football Club defeated Jawalakhel Youth Club 2-0 to move up to second, while Neal Police Club and Himalayan Sherpa Club played a 1-1 draw in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
With their second win in three matches, Machhindra are level on seven points with leaders Satdobato Youth Club, who are ahead in the table on superior goal difference, and Manang Marshyangdi.
MMC are at the third position.
Machhindra took the lead in the 14th minute through an own goal from JYC defender Simanta Thapa, who put the ball into his own nets while trying to clear a cross from Abhishek Rijal. Ranjit Dhimal doubled the tally seven minutes later when he converted a free kick into a sensational goal.
JYC had a chance to make it 1-1 in the 19th minute but Onguna Nkengue Junior saw his shot blocked by Machhindra goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha. JYC came close for the second time in 34th minute and another foreign recruit Loic Njimi Kouahim ended up with a wide shot. Junior rescued JYC with a timely clearance following a corner kick from Machhindra's Bishal Rai in the 59th minute. Manish Dangi wasted Ranjit Dhimal's corner moments later, while JYC goalkeeper Tekendra Singh Thapa punched out a free kick from Omolaja Nurain Kareem in the 72nd minute. Machhindra skipper Sujal Shrestha missed a chance in one-on-one with JYC goalkeeper Thapa in the 77th minute.
In another match, NPC salvaged a draw with HSC. HSC skipper Bishwas Shrestha put the team ahead in the first minute of the match with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area. Shrestha found the back of the nets in the 53rd second making it the fastest goal of the league.
NPC levelled the scores at the stroke of an hour when unmarked Suman Lama netted an easy goal from six-yard box following a cross from Ravi Paswan. The Policemen came close to taking the lead in the 65th minute but HSC goalkeeper Kishor Giri punched out Ajit Bhandari's shot on a pass from Bhola Nath Silwal.
The second draw in three matches meant NPC are tied on five points with Sankata Club and Tribhuvan Army Club.
Three Star Club, Brigade Boys Club and Chyasal Youth Club have four points each, while Friends Club, New Road Team and Sherpa have two apiece. JYC and Nepal APF Club have not been able to open their accounts yet.
A version of this article appears in the print on December 09, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
