Sankata defeat Sherpa, move to second

Kathmandu, December 13

CMG Club Sankata defeated Himalayan Sherpa Club 2-0 to move to second position in the Pulsar Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the ANFA Complex grounds today.

Cedric Aba and Dipesh Ale Magar scored one each for Sankata in the space of two minutes to put their team in command. With their seventh win in eight matches, Sankata accumulated 21 points and are level with leaders Signature Manang Marshyangdi Club, who have played seven matches. Sherpa are sixth with 11 points.

Aba put Sankata ahead in the 12th minute on a solo effort after he took the ball alone from the centre of the grounds and dodged as many as two defenders before slotting home. Ale Magar doubled the tally two minutes later when he capitalised on defensive error from Niraj Basnet to score from the six-yard box.

Sherpa came close to scoring in the 25th minute but Sankata goalkeeper Raja Babu Thapa punched out Bishwas Shrestha’s free kick. It was a repeat of action in the 55th minute as Thapa denied Shrestha from the set piece again and the custodian saved another free kick from the same player in the 73rd minute.

In another match, New Road Team faced a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Saraswoti Youth Club to suffer their seventh straight defeat in the league. Saraswoti accumulated nine points from eight matches and are at the ninth position, while NRT — who had opened the campaign with a 2-2 draw against Tribhuvan Army Club in the first round — are at the bottom of the 14-team league with one point.

Victor Amobi scored the solitary goal of the match in the second half after both the teams failed to find the back of the nets in the first period. Saraswoti earned a spot kick in the 73rd minute after NRT defender handled the ball inside the penalty area and Victor converted from the spot to seal his team’s third victory.

At the Nepal APF Club grounds in Halchowk, GrandMaster Jawalakhel Youth Club stunned the home side 1-0 to record their second victory of the league. After a goalless draw in which APF missed a couple of easy chances, Afeez Lawal scored the solitary goal of the match in the 49th minute which proved the winner for JYC. With the victory, JYC accumulated seven points from eight matches, while APF faced their fourth defeat.