KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 9
Ravi Shankar Paswan scored a brace as Nepal Police Club defeated Chyasal Youth Club 2-1 in a relegation fight of the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Paswan netted one each in either half for the departmental side, while Moussa Abagana scored from the spot for Chyasal in the last match of the ninth round, which was postponed due to outbreak of coronavirus cases in the Patan-based club.
With their second win, NPC moved out of relegation zone and jumped to 10th position, behind fellow departmental side Nepal APF Club, on 10 points, while Chyasal remained at the 13th place with five points. Friends Club are at the bottom with three points.
Jawalakhel Youth Club (eight) and Brigade Boys Club (six) are above bottom two teams.
On Wednesday, Paswan put NPC ahead in the 37th minute when he slotted into the second bar following a pass from Nir Kumar Rai giving no chance for goalkeeper Arpan Karki, who made a desperate dive but was not able to stop the ball from kissing the net.
Chyasal levelled the scores in the 53rd minute through Abagana's penalty. Chyasal earned the spot kick after Rumesh Bartaula was brought down inside the box and Abagana converted the resulting penalty without any trouble.
Paswan scored his second goal of the match to give lead to the NPC for the second time in the 69th minute. Paswan took the pass from Suman Lama and beat Chyasal skipper Biraj Maharjan before slamming home past goalkeeper Arpan Karki.
Earlier, goalkeeper Karki rescued his side from going down in the second minute when he collected Ajit Bhandari's header following a corner from Suman Lama.
NPC came close to scoring in the 24th minute but Tej Tamang's shot went inches wide off the post, while Moussa Abanaga wasted a chance at the other end three minutes later.
NPC goalkeeper Shatrughan Kumar Chaudhary punched out Kamal Shrestha's free kick six minutes into the second half, while the custodian saved his side again in the 62nd minute when he made a timely dive to deny Rumesh Bartaula.
Chyasal almost levelled the scores in the 82d minute but Ahishek Limbu headed against the cross bar, while the Patan-based side wasted two chances in the 87th minute after Bikash Meraglia muffed up an opportunity with a feeble shot and Karna Limbu failed to score in rebound.
Chyasal created two opportunities in the injury times but they ran out of luck and were forced to face their fourth defeat.
Yannick Ketcha's shot deflected to Hemanta Shrestha before hitting the post in the fourth minute, while Abhishek Limbu failed to find the back of the nets with a header in a corner.
After the completion of nine rounds, defending champions Machhindra FC are at the top of the table with 23 points and they are four points ahead of second-placed Manang Marshyangdi Club. Tribhuvan Army Football Club are third on 17 points, while Three Star Club are fourth on 16, slowed by Sankata Club (14), New Road Team (13), newcomers Satdobato Youth Club (12) and Himalayan Sherpa Club (11).
The 10th round matches will begin on Friday.
A version of this article appears in the print on February 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
