Kathmandu, February 19:

Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) defeated Mahendra Police Club 2-0 while defending champion Nabil Three Star Club was held to a 1-1 draw by Tribhuvan Army Club in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League matches here at Dasharath Stadium today.

The results put MMC in the driver’s seat as they are now just one point away from the sixth league title, while Three Star Club will take on MMC in a must-win match in the last game of the double-leg league on Tuesday.

MMC lead the standings with 65 points, two more than Three Star. Sunday’s draw ensured Tribhuvan Army Club the third position whereas two-time runners-up MPC, who were on top with an unbeaten run in the first-leg, ended the season at fourth.

In the MMC dominated first game, Nurudeen Olawale Salau put MMC ahead capitalising on a defensive blunder in the 17th minute.

Salau just needed a tap following Felix Chimaokwu’s corner that rolled between two MPC defenders letting Salau an easy hit. Felix, who hit the bar in the 21st minute, was booked

in the 38th minute that aroused tensions in the match causing interruption of the play for few minutes.

After the arrival of Felix, who joined MMC in the later half of the second leg, MMC has been performing well but the booking have kept him away from the last match.

Salau doubled the lead in the 42nd minute. Salau exhibited a brilliant controlling skill before firing home after Stanley Cyprian provided him a pass. Nabin Neupane ruined a MMC chance when he hit the post in a penalty, which Manang earned after Rajendra Shrestha handled the ball inside the box.

MPC coach Yogumber Suwal did not rued the loss nor did he lamented for finishing fourth in the table. “I am happy for what we have achieved. We were forced to play the second leg matches with most of our key players on bench due to injuries injuries,” Suwal said.

Happy to earn the three points, MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung said that they took advantage of inury-troubled MPC. Commenting on the vital last match against Three Star, he said that they would adopt offensive strategy although a draw would be enough for them to win the championship.

In an aggresive second match, Three Star was unlucky from the begining as Surendra Tamang struck the inner bar in the first minute in a one-on-one with TAC goalkeeper Ram Kumar Chaudhary.

Cristian Chedieberi put Three in front scoring a perfect goal following Pradip Maharjan’s headed pass in the 24th minute. Three Star goalie Upendra Man Singh saved Chun Bahadur Thapa’s free kick in the 41st minute but Chun Bahadur assisted an equaliser four minutes after the break. Bishwo Bairag Samal powerfully headed home on his acute right wing cross leaving veteran national goalkeeper Upendra unmoved in the goalline.

Technical director of Three Star Kumar Katuwal, who is looking the team in the absence of coach Migrendra Mishra, said that the result made no difference. “We have to beat MMC even if we had defeated TAC today.” He said that Pralay Rajbhandari’s injury was a great blow but they will make sure that he would play in the last game.

Cop-instigated mob vandalise stadium

KATHMANDU: Insensitive cops were close to inviting a grave mishap at Dasharath Stadium by trying to disperse the sell-out crowd of nearly 15,000 watching the match between Nabil Three Star Club and Tribhuvan Army Club here today.

The incident started after Three Star supporters, angered by the poor performace of their team, hurled objects to players heading towards the dressing room. Without realising the damage they would have inflicted, the policemen latthi charged the crowd.

With no space to escape inside the stadium, several of the spectators got injured but thanks to the ANFA president Ganesh Thapa, who ran towards the crowd and beg forgiveness while calling off the troops. The incident was close to inviting the tragic event occured 17-years ago that saw several people killed at the same place due to the vicious storm. The furious mob then retaliated the policemen and also broke hoarding boards, damaged motorbikes and broke glasses of some vehicles outside the stadium while constantly hurling stones. — HNS