Far Western FC and Nepal Police Club settle for a 2-2 draw
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KATHMANDU, April 23: Prabin Syangtan scored a winner in second half injury time to help Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) stun Jhapa XI 1-0 and propel the former atop the Red Bull National League standings, besides handing the latter its first defeat on home ground, Wednesday.
A draw could have kept Jhapa intact at the summit but super-sub Prabin's crucial goal in the fourth minute of injury time broke the heart of the raucous home crowd.
Desperate to win, Jhapa resorted to all-out offense in the last 10 minutes, only to concede a goal.
Capitalizing on the opponent's game plan, Prabin scored a winner in his solo effort, making a darting run from beyond 35-yard to dispatch a low shot past Jhapa goalie Dinesh Thapa in a one-on-one.
But it was Jhapa that kept its opponent under immense pressure with a barrage of attacking moves.
APF defended deep into its area to keep Jhapa at bay.
"My intention was to draw a point from this match. The pressure was too much to handle in the last 20 minutes," said APF coach Krishna Thapa.
"We were fortunate to come away with three points. We are very happy with this win."
The absence of Karna Limbu, highest goal scorer in the championship so far, and high-flying Bishal Rai, fell hard on Jhapa.
Karna was ruled illegitimate with two yellow cards in previous fixtures while Bishal was unavailable due to injury.
"We dominated the match but failed to score. Things could have been different if either Karna or Bishal was available for today," said Jhapa coach Bhagirath Ale.
Jhapa missed scores of brilliant opportunities. It came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Khamir Gilsan Kangdangwa fired a scorcher from inside the box. It whisked past the post. Ganesh Khadka shot wide from inside the box in the 14th minute while African-recruit Ahamad Abbas also failed to score in a one-on-one.
Meanwhile, Three Star Club completed a narrow 1-0 victory over Lumbini FC at the latter's home base in Butwal to climb one position above with 11 points.
Level at 11 points with Tribhuvan Army, which was held to a goalless draw by minnows Morang FC in Biratnagar, Three Star trails leader APF by three points but has one match in hand. In an evenly contested match, Santosh Shaukhala scored the winner in the 78th minute.
In another exciting encounter in Dhangadi, Far Western FC and Nepal Police Club settled for a 2-2 stalemate. Cedric Aba put the home team in the driving seat in the 24th minute, before Binod Karki canceled his lead a minute later to restore parity.
Police and Far Western, sixth and seventh in the standings respectively, are level at seven points but separated by virtue of goal difference.
Far Western again took the lead through another African-recruit, Lawal Afeez, in the 74th minute, before Rabin Shrestha leveled the score for Police in the 80th minute.
Morang stayed rooted to eighth place with four points.
