Nepal APF hammer Tribhuvan Army FC in departmental derby at the Dasharath Stadium
KATHMANDU, MAY 10
Newcomers Church Boys United stunned two-time defending champions Machhindra Football Club 2-1 and regained the top spot in the 16th round match of the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the ANFA Complex grounds today.
Kamal Shrestha scored one for United and set another for Anjan Bista, while Omolaja Nurain Kareem scored for Machhindra. With their eighth victory, the United - who are playing the top flight football for the first time after they won the B Division League last year - accumulated 30 points and moved back to the top.
After the completion of 16 rounds, the United are three points ahead of Jawalakhel Youth Club, while Three Star Club are third on 25 points. Machhindra, who faced their sixth loss, remained at the fourth place with 24 points, whereas Royal Blue Satdobato Youth Club are fifth on 23 points. Nepal APF FC, who outplayed Tribhuvan Army FC 3-0 in the day's another match at the Dasharath Stadium, climbed to sixth with 22 points, one more than their departmental rivals. Record eight-time champions Manang Marshyangdi Club are eighth on head-to-head results after being tied on 20 points with Himalayan Sherpa Club and Sankata Club. Friends Club (19) and New Road Team (18) are ahead of bottom two teams - FC Khumaltar (17) and Nepal Police Club (16) - in 14-team table.
At the ANFA Complex grounds, Anjan Bista opened the scoring in the 41st minute when he headed home on a free kick from Kamal Shrestha. Omolaja Nurain Karim levelled the scores for Machhindra from the spot in the 65th minute. Franklin Kuete Talla brought down Andres Nia Tchounkeu inside the penalty box and Karim converted the resulting penalty.
Kamal Shrestha restored the lead in the 71st minute following a howler from second-choice goalkeeper Pradip Bhandari, who was included in the starting XI after skipper and regular custodian Bishal Shrestha caught fever. Bhandari put the ball into his own nets while trying to punch it on a corner from Shrestha for an own goal. But the officials gave the goal to Shrestha instead of an own goal from goalkeeper Bhandari. Church Boys United head coach Balgopal Maharjan was happy with the win and lauded his boys' performance in the match. "We reached the summit again although the gap is not a big one. We were successful in beating defending champions Machhindra and we need to continue the momentum as we have a couple of tough matches to play," he said.
Maharjan said the team was on right track of winning the title. "We have our eyes firmly set on the title. "A couple of key players are injured but I am happy that the substitutes are also performing satisfactorily," he said. Maharjan also lamented the organisers for scheduling the match at the ANFA complex grounds. "It was a high-profile match and the ANFA should have scheduled the match in the evening at the Dasharath Stadium. And they should have made a plan to bring in spectators at the venue," he added.
Machhindra FC coach Kishor Kumar KC said his side gifted three points to their opponents. "We simply gave away three points to the opponents. The goalkeeper (Bhandari) should have easily punched away the ball but I am not sure what he was trying to do," KC said. "We lost it because of our own mistakes," he added. KC also said he was forced to play with almost a second-string side due to injury to the players. "The players are getting injured due to the tight schedule and we have been hit hard," he said.
In another match, APF demolished TAFC in the departmental derby at the Dasharath Stadium. APF took the lead in the 41st minute when Youdha Shahi scored an own goal while trying to clear the ball in an attempt from Armand Beadoum. Awas Lamichhane doubled the tally in the 56the minute before Nabin Lama made it 3-0 six minutes later.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
