Machhindra, Three Star play tame draw; SYC hammer Sankata
Kathmandu, April 26
Relegation-threatened Himalayan Sherpa Club recorded a shock 2-1 victory over leaders Jawalakhel Youth Club in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Pistone Vunyoli Mutamba scored a brace to put Sherpa 2-0 ahead in the first half, while Nkoto Synous Masoabi scored the consolation goal for JYC in the second half to take his personal tally to 10 goals in the league. Despite the loss, JYC remained at the top of the table with 23 points, while Sherpa are at the 13th place in the 14-team table. They are behind New Road Team and FC Khumaltar after being tied on 13 points from 13 matches.
Mutamba opened the scoring in the 10th minute after he found the back of the nets from the crowded penalty box. He doubled the tally nine minutes later with a powerful strike from the edge of the box following a back pass from Khamir Gilsan Kandangwa. Masoabi pulled one for JYC in the 72nd minute after playing one-two with Samir Raj Thokar but the goal turned out to be a consolation one for the leaders.
Earlier, Three Star Club played a 0-0 draw with twotime defending champions Machhindra at the Dasharath Stadium. With the stalemate, Three Star remained at the second position with 22 points from 12 matches, while Machhindra accumulated 17 points and they are at the seventh position.
Both the teams created ample scoring opportunities but they failed to find the back of the nets. Machhindra's Chencho Gyaltshen struck against the cross bar in the 44th minute, while Three Star's Santosh Shahukhala shot over the bar with a powerful strike from inside the box in the 47th minute.
Three Star scored in the 68th minute when Laken Limbu found the back of the nets from the edge of the area but the goal was ruled offside after Ajayi Martins made a move at the far post. Mahendra Karki rescued Three Star with a clearance to deny Afeez Olawale Oladipo's header in the 70th minute. At the other end, Dipesh Gurung wasted a chance inside the box following a sublime cross from Shahukhala.
Three Star goalkeeper Taha Mohamad punched out Gyaltshen's free kick in the 84th minute, while Machhindra's Sourav Limbu saw his shot saved by the custodian in the fifth minute of the injury time.
At the Chyasal Stadium, Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club hammered Sankata Club 4-0 riding on two goals each from William Opoku Asiedu and Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri. With their sixth win, Satdobato moved up to third spot with 21 points, while Sankata remained at ninth on 15 points.
Asiedu put SYC ahead in the 10th minute and he doubled the tally nine minutes later. Thakuri then netted two goals in the second half to help his team register a thumping victory. Thakuri made it 3-0 in the 68th minute and he completed the scoring with his second goal of the match in the 82nd minute. With the brace, Thakuri took his personal tally to 10 goals and he is tied with JYC's Nkoto Synous Masoabi.
A version of this article appears in the print on April 27, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
