Nepal Police Club record first victory; United, APF share points
Kathmandu, April 10
Surprise table-toppers Manang Marshyangdi Club salvaged a draw against Three Star Club, while Nepal Police Club registered their first victory and Church Boys United shared points with APF Football Club in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here today.
In the last match of the seventh round, MMC needed an 84th minute equaliser from Koffi Timothee Koudo to maintain their unbeaten run and they are at the top of the 14- team standing with 15 points. Three Star remained at the sixth place with 11 points.
After a goalless first half, Three Star took the lead in the 78th minute after Santosh Shahukhala scored a spectacular goal from the edge of the area. Fed by Laken Limbu after he won the header against Ranadeep Poudel just outside the box, former national team striker took a sharp turn and unleashed an unstoppable right-footed volley from the edge of the area leaving no room for MMC goalkeeper Deep Karki.
The match was heading towards the end and MMC were staring at their first defeat in the league but Koudo headed home from inside the box following a cross from Bishon Gurung. Three Star goalkeeper Taha Mohammad was unable to stop the ball after he slipped while trying to make a dive.
Earlier, Three Star came close to opening the scores in the 12th minute but MMC goalkeeper Karki denied Sahikhala following a cross from Dipesh Gurung. MMC created their first notable chance in the first half injury time when they earned a free kick just outsidethe penalty area but Three Star goalkeeper Mohammad rescued his team with a brilliant punch to deny Kamal Thapa.
In the 51st minute, Biraj Maharjan made a sublime cross from right flank and Yogesh Gurung headed toward the goal but MMC custodian Karki stood firm to save the ball.
Three Star came close again in the 70th minute but Karki made another save to deny Ajayi Martins' header on a cross from Yogesh Gurung.
Five minutes later, Martins could not reach the ball on a sublime cross from Laken Limbu.
Shahukhala, who came from Japan to play for Three Star, had a chance to win the match for the team but he ended up with a wayward shot from inside the box with just MMC goalkeeper Karki to beat.
Three Star coach Meghraj KC lauded the performance of both teams and he was satisfied with the draw. "I am happy with a point from the match as we are still in the process of building a team and we are on right track of our target of achieving our goals," said KC.
"I believe the match was the best one in the league so far and I am sure our team will play quality football as the league progresses," he added.
Asked about signing ageing Shahukhala in the team, coach KC said the Nepali football market was out of quality players and they had to reach out to the footballer living in Japan.
"We needed a prominent striker in the squad and we requested him to join the team. He was generous enough to accept our offer," said KC. "This was his first match with us and we are satisfied with his performance," added KC, who praised the quality of the player in scoring such a brilliant goal. "The way he made roomwith a 90 degree turn and shot a volley, it was just incredible. The MMC goalkeeper [Deep Karki] was clueless."
MMC coach Kiran Shrestha was also happy with the draw. "Three Star are also a good side and we were able to materalise the plan of not losing all points," he said. "Our players looked a bit weak in physical duel but I am satisfied with the overall performance of the team," he added. "We were not in position to take risk with a team like Three Star and we succeeded in earning a point," said Shrestha.
In an early kickoff at the Dasharath Stadium, Church Boys United and APF FC played a tame draw. The United maintained their unbeaten streak and remained at the third position with 13 points following their fourth draw in seven matches. APF accumulated 11 points and they are at the fifth position, ahead of Three Star on head-to-head results. APF had defeated Three Star 2-0 in the first round match on March 4.
At the ANFA Complex grounds, NPC defeated Friends Club 3-1 for their first win in the league. NPC, who brought in two foreign players in the squad for the first time, moved one place up to 13th with four points from seven matches. Friends, who also have four points, dropped down to the bottom.
After a goalless first half, NPC's foreign recruit Moses Gyabaah Twum opened the scoring in the 51st minute, while Buddhabal Tamang doubled the tally seven minutes later. Torric Jebrin cut the deficit for Friends three minutes before the end but Tamang put the issue beyond doubt with his second goal of the match in the injury time.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
