KATHMANDU, Jan 22: CMG Club Sankata came from behind to stun McDowell´s Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) 2-1 in the Martyrs Memorial A Division Football League at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday while bottom-placed Bauddha FC wrapped up its league campaign with a much-awaited 2-0 victory over Mahindra Bansbari FC in a clash of the bottom dwellers.
Sankata´s African recruit Samuel Ongono scored five minutes before the interval to cancel RCT´s early lead taken through Yugal Kishor Rai, and Sudip Limbu netted the winning goal for Sankata during the dying moments.[break]
The result lifted Sankata, which had made a comeback in top-tier football after a year, two spots to ninth with 20 points while RCT remained unchanged in the third place with 26 points, two points behind second-placed Nepal Army Club and six behind leader Three Star Club after the completion of the 15th round. Though level on points with Machhindra and MMC, RCT is ahead in the points table on the basis of head-to-head records. Three Star, Machhindra and MMC, however, have a match advantage over RCT.
Sankata (Red) vs RCT players. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
RCT took the lead in the 11th minute when an unmarked Yugal Kishor Rai made a cool finish from the area in a one-on-one with custodian Ndoe Pbarga Pierre. Samuel Ongono hit back the equalizer in the 40th minute with a low header in Ritesh Khadka´s shot.
An unmarked Sudip Limbu fired home from the area to ensure victory for Sankata in the 90th minute. In the second half, Ongono twice squandered scoring chances while Barsat Gurung also missed one opportunity.
In the 23rd minute, RCT could have doubled the advantage but Rai chipped wide in a one-on-one with custodian Pierre. RCT could not threaten the opposition even once during the second half.
RCT coach Madhu Karki termed his team´s performance as one of the worst performances in the league. "They need to put efforts, but it never seemed that they used their potential. How can the team play in the Super Eight round with such performance?" Karki said.
Prakash Nepali, who was officially named the coach of Sankata instead of regular coach Maheshwar Mulimi for an undisclosed reason, said that the victory was the result of hard effort and team spirit of his side.
In the late match of the day, Bauddha achieved its first victory in its last match over Bansbari FC. Both the teams have already been relegated.
Rajan Adhikari and substitute Suman Lama scored during the dying moments of either half for Bauddha. Adhikari scored in the 45th minute while Lama netted in the first minute of two-minute stoppage time at the end of second half.
Bauddha finished at the bottom of the table with four points in its kitty registering a win and a draw, while Bansbari finished second from the bottom with six points from a win and three draws.
RCT players. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
Bauddha Manager Buddha Lama, who appeared in the post-match conference instead of coach Kiran Shrestha who has been slapped a one-match touchline ban, said the win was a face-saver for the already relegated Bauddha. Lama said the club has set the aim of returning to top flight after a year. "Now our aim is to come up with new programs and secure our position in A division again."
Bansbari coach Deepesh Yonjan Lama opined that his side failed to capitalize on chances while the opponents utilized them. Lama also said that he was ready to look after the team in B division if the club showed interest in him.
Wednesday´s matches
Sherpa Vs Madhyapur @ 12:30 NST
NRT Vs Machhindra @ 14:30 NST
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