APF beat Brigade; Friends down Sankata

Kathamandu, January 29:

New Road Team (NRT) annihilated Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) 5-0 while injury-hit Mahendra Police Club (MPC) was held to a goalless draw by Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League matches at Dasharath Stadium today.

Friends’ Club beat Sankata Club 2-0 and Dhanbir Chaudhary’s injury time goal helped Gyanendra Armed Police Force (APF) Officers’ Club defeat Brigade Boys Club (BBC) 2-1 in the other matches at Armed Police Stadium in Halchowk.

Yugal Kishor Rai and Sunil Subedi struck two each and Binod Lama added another in NRT’s win over JYC. Rai opened the scoring in the 14th minute following a pass from Kiran Kapali. Rai converted after his shot rebounded off JYC goalkeeper Sanjeev Shrestha.

A grave defensive blunder by Barun Chand gave Sunil Subedi a chance to double NRT’s lead in the 22nd minute. Subedi scored after taking a mispass by Chand inside the penalty area.

The trio combination of Kamal Bista, Rai and Subedi created third goal for NRT in the 38th minute. Sunil just gave the finishing touch following Rai’s header on Kamal Bista’s free kick.

Binod Lama made it 4-0 in the 59th minute and one minutes into the second half injury time, Yugal Kishor Rai completed the rout beating two defenders and rounded off JYC goalie before scoring his second goal of the match.

NRT coach Maheswor Mulmi said that the easy win was the outcome of his players realisation of their mistakes in the earlier match against BBC JYC coach Megh Raj KC said that he has stopped carrying about the results after feeling safe from relegation. “It would be wrong to blame the players as long as they are made to play almost every other day,” KC said.

At Halchowk, the home team pulled out a 2-1 dramatic win over BBC. Ganesh Lawati gave APF a lead in the 34th minute but BBC star Obagbimiro Junior shocked the home team scoring the equaliser one minute into the extra time. To BBC’s dismay, a minute later when their celebration was not even over, Dhanbir Chaudhary found the winner for APF.

Earlier, Friends’ new signing Chuka Oceti put Friends Club ahead in the 51st minute before Chandra Tamang added another two minutes into the injury time to secure three clear points.

Obagbemiro Junior on top

KATHMANDU: Brigade Boys Club’s Nigerian striker Obagbemiro Junior topped the highest goal-scorers list after scoring a goal in a match against Gyanendra Armed Police Force (APF) Officers’ Club on Sunday. He was tied with MMC’s Basanta Thapa, who left for Japan for further studies, with 19 goals before the match. Out of the 35 goals scored by BBC in 23 matches, Junior scored 20 goals.

With seven rounds left in the league, Rishi Rai of RCT and Surendra Tamang of Three Star Club have scored 17 goals each. Ramesh Budathoki (MPC) and Janamat Karki (TAC) have 16 goals to their credit while Mani Pandit has scored 15 goals so far. — HNS

Today’s matches

At Dasharath Stadium

• Three Star vs BBC @ 12:30 pm

• MMC vs Mahabir @ 2:30 pm

At Armed Police Stadium

• Boys’ Union vs BFC @ 12:30 pm

• Army vs Friends @ 2:30 pm