Skipper Anil Gurung scored the all-important goal early in the sixth minute to hand the departmental team its second defeat in as many matches of the super league. Gurung was sent off in the 64th minute for a second bookable offense.[break]
The win, MMC´s second in the super league, left the team unchanged in the second position with 32 points, six behind leader Three Star Club. Meanwhile, Army, which had started its super league campaign as a title contender in the second place, dropped one spot to seventh with 28 points.
MMC dominated the show until its skipper Gurung was sent off and created as many as half-a-dozen attractive chances. Gurung used his hand to score from the area prompting referee Laba Khatri to slap on him a second yellow card. He was earlier booked in the 33rd minute.
"Gurung´s use of hand in the danger zone was a blunder," MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang said during the post-match conference, adding that his absence will impact the team´s next match against Friends. Lopsang, however, expressed happiness at the three points earned by his team.
MMC vs Nepal Army Club. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
"I had hoped for an easy victory but we came under pressure during the later stage of the match due to our own mistakes," opined Lopsang.
MMC´s African forward Fils Sergio Chico wasted as many as three clear scoring chances. In the very first minute Chico´s free strike from the six-yard box sailed inches above the bar. In the 31st minute, the African fired wide in a one-on-one with custodian Ganga Ram Deuja after stealing the ball from Army skipper Ram Kumar Biswas. In the 59th minute, Chico again shot above the bar from close range after exchanging one-touch passes with Sabindra Shrestha.
MMC squandered a chance to double the advantage in the fading moments as its substitute forward Ram Thapa, an injury time replacement for Chico, was denied in a one-on-one by custodina Deuja.
Army could not create more than a couple of chances throughout the match and wasted a chance to level the score in the 83rd minute when Daimoj Dhimal was denied by custodian Emmanuel Dare in a one-on-one situation. Dhimal was set up by Tek Bahadur Budhathoki.
"We conceded the goal before the team was set and the boys also failed to convert chances," Army´s assistant coach Babukaji Dhaubanjar said during the post-match conference. "The performance was better than the first match against Friends. We still have a chance to finish in the top three."
Late goal secures Machhindra win
In the day´s first match, a late goal from Bishal Rai A helped NMB Bank Machhindra Club defeat McDowell´s Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) 2-1 and climb three spots to third in the points table.
Rai A scored the winner with a low strike from the arch of the danger zone in the 88th minute after collecting a pass from Karna Limbu. RCT custodian Prem Kumar Tamang could not prevent the goal despite getting his hands on the ball.
Earlier, skipper Deepak Rai had put Machhindra ahead in the 29th minute. Rai, who was left unmarked, made an unstoppable header in a corner taken by Bishal Rai B. RCT squared the score in the 77th minute when forward Amar Dangol´s free header in Bijay Gurung´s cross entered the net after deflecting off the post.
Following its second consecutive defeat in the super league, RCT is at the bottom of the table with 26 points while Machhindra leapfrogged to the third position with 30 points.
Laxmi Nath Shrestha´s header in the 23rd minute for Machhindra was off target while RCT defender Krishna Kunwar´s clearance in the 62nd minute went out after hitting the bar.
In the 38th minute, Ntolo Ngoumou´s shot for RCT from a crowded danger zone was punched to safety by custodian Dinesh Thapa Magar. The custodian later made a long stretched dive to deny Amar Dangol´s volley from the arch.
Thursday´s Match
Three Star Vs NRT
Time: 15:30 NST
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