KATHMANDU, JUNE 4
Newcomers Church Boys United put one hand on the Martyrs Memorial A Division League title after Nepal Police Club stunned Machhindra Football Club 2-1 here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Two-time defending champions Machhindra had a chance to close the gap to two points and they took the lead in the 24th round match. But the NPC dented their hopes with a come-from-behind victory.With two matches remaining, United are five points ahead in the table and they are one point away from lifting the title in their first season.
They can seal the title with a draw or win against Three Star Club on Tuesday. If they fail to do so, United will face fellow newcomers FC Khumaltar on June 9.
United are at the top with 44 points, while Machhindra remained second on 39 points.NPC - who won just one match in the first leg - are fourth with 37 points, tied with third-placed Jawalakhel Youth Club. Afeez Olawale Oladipo put Machhindra ahead in the 25th minute before Moses Gyabaah Twum hit back with a brace in the space of eight minutes after the break. NPC's foreign recruit Twum found the back of the nets in the 75th and 83rd minutes.
In other matches, Sankata Club defeated Khumaltar 3-0, while Manang Marshyangdi Club played a 1-1 stalemate with Friends Club.
Also, New Road Team settled for a 1-1 draw with Himalayan Sherpa Club. Nishan Khadka, Ayush Ghalan and Chandan Kumar Das scored for Sankata against relegation-threatened Khumaltar.
In another match, MMC took the lead in the 52nd minute, while Amit Tamang levelled the scores in the 86th minute.
Likewise, Diwash Urau put NRT in the lead in the 52nd minute but their joy short lived as Dipesh Ale Magar scored the equaliser for Sherpa three minutes later.
MMC remained at the sixth place behind Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club on headto-head results after being tied on 32 points, while Sherpa are seventh with 31 points.
Nepal APF Football Club, New Road Team, Sankata Club and Tribhuvan Army Football Club are tied on 30 points and they hold eighth to 11th positions respectively in the 14- team table. Three Star Club are 12th on 28 points, while Friends Club (26) and FC Khumaltar (24) are the bottom two sides in the standing.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 5, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
