KATHMANDU, JANUARY 9
Three Star Club defeated Himalayan Sherpa Club 2-0 for their third victory in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
After a goalless first half, Ritik Kumar Khadka and Ghanefo Ansumana Kromah scored in the latter half of the match. With the win, Three Star moved up to fifth with 13 points, while Himalayan Sherpa remained at sixth place with 11 points. Khadka put Three Star ahead in the 57th minute when Khadka's attempt on Komrah's pass deflected to Himalayan Sherpa defender Amrit Shrestha before entering the goal. At a time when the match was heading towards the end, Three Star doubled the tally in the seventh minute of the injury time. Kromah found the back of the nets after he took a pass from Loken Limbu and beat Himalayan Sherpa goalkeeper Deep Karki in one-onone situation.
Earlier, Himalayan Sherpa custodian Karki saved Raphael Bidias Rim's header following a corner from Hemanta Thapa Magar in the 30th minute. At the other end, Kromah headed over the bar on a cross from Sanjok Rai five minutes later.
Himalayan Sherpa were unlucky in the first half injury time as Mutamba Pistone Vunyoli struck against the bar following a pass from Amrit Shrestha. Himalayan Sherpa came close to levelling the scores in the sixth minute of the injury time but Vunyoli saw his header saved by Three Star goalkeeper Guillaume Yves Priso Njanga.
Three Star coach Urjan Shrestha said the team put up an improved show in the second half. "We could not score in the first half but the team showed a different character after the break and scored goals," he said. "The team has become a strong one after the signings of foreign players," he added. "We will try our best to perform to our potential and win all the remaining matches."
Himalayan Sherpa coach Yugal Kishor Rai rued the missed opportunities.
"You need goals to win matches and we were not able to utilise the chances," said Rai. "We were performing well but an own goal changed the complexion of the match. We could have fought for top three had we won the match but we missed that chance after the loss."
A version of this article appears in the print on January 10, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
