Dangol scored two goals in the space of three minutes as MMC became the third big name after Machhindra and Three Star to suffer blow from RCT. [break]In the match played at the Dasharath Stadium, Dangol opened the scoring in the ninth minute and added the second two minutes later to take his goals tally to nine goals. Dangol is now two goals behind highest scorer Santosh Sahukhala of Three Star and level with Bharat Khawas of Nepal Army Club. Nirajan Malla pulled one back for MMC in the second half.
The result lifted fourth-placed RCT to the top of the table on the basis of head-to-head record. All the top three teams -- RCT, Three Star and Machhindra -- have 26 points each. Three Star and Machhindra, however, have a match advantage over the leader. MMC, which could have moved two points clear at the top had it achieved victory, dropped one spot to fourth with 25 points following its second defeat in the league.
With the victory, RCT also avenged the humiliating 6-1 defeat against MMC in the final of Ncell Cup held in October 2012. "The victory has avenged the defeat suffered during the Ncell Cup final," RCT coach Baiju Kapali said during the post-match conference. Kapali also termed the victory a result of hard effort.
Photo: Bikash Karki
Kapali´s counterpart Krishna Thapa of MMC said he feared that his side could face a fate similar to RCT´s during the Ncell Cup after early goals. Thapa also opined that his side was still in the title race. "We still have chance of finishing as the winner in the super league. But we need to work hard," said Thapa, who lamented the numerous chances missed by his players.
In the entertaining match from start to finish, Dangol put RCT ahead in the ninth minute when he tapped in Yugal Kishor Rai´s cross from the six-yard box.
Dangol, who had picked ankle injury and was not sure of playing till morning, doubled the tally in the 11th minute with a brilliant effort. Dangol beat an offside trap and then chipped over advancing goalie Emmanuel Dare to the delight of RCT supporters. Krishna Kunwar had fed the pass to Dangol.
"Dangol did not warm up even yesterday due to ankle injury," said RCT coach Madhu Karki, whose three-match touchline ban ended following the match. "He said he wanted to play against MMC as they had defeated us during the Ncell Cup. So he took injection in the morning and played the match."
MMC created nearly a dozen opportunities but only Nirajan Malla was able to find the back of the net. Malla beat the goalie in the six-yard box in Shiva Shrestha´s pass. Both skipper Anil Gurung and Sujal Shrestha missed a chance before the first five minutes. In the 28th minute, goalie Prem Kumar Tamang made a heroic dive to prevent Shiva Shrestha´s quick semi-volley. Tamang made a similar save to deny Sujal Shrestha in the 54th minute.
A minute earlier, Sulav Maskey had hit the woodwork from the edge. Sabindra Shrestha and skipper Gurung missed a couple of other chances.
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