In the late kick-off of the day, Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club pulled a hard fought 2-1 victory over Army Club.[break]
Star-studded MMC dominated the match from early first half but could not tear-up stubborn defending of Saraswati. Saraswati goalie Bikesh Kuthu punched Nirajan Khadka´s powerful strike in the second minute of the match and made a heroic save to the shot off Santosh Sahukhala in the rebound. Kuthu again denied Khadka in the 17th minute.
In the 29th minute, Sahukhala and Yougal Kishor Rai both missed a golden opportunities. Sujal Shrestha crossed to Sahukhala but he could not head it. Ganesh Khadka collected the ball and crossed to Rai but he was unable to shoot the ball.
Kuthu proved to be Saraswati´s hero as he saved a 30-yard shot off Deepak Bhushal in the 56th minute of the match.
In the 59th minute, Ram Thapa met a corner off Bhushal and sent into the net but assistant referee declared the ball was already out from the goal line in its aerial route.
Sahukhala´s header in the 81st minute in a pass off Captain Tashi Tsering went into the net but again it was judged offside.
Bhushal powerful free kick in the dying minute of the match was punched by Kuthu to compel the title-hopeful MMC to share points with Saraswati.
Saraswati were focused on defending and created very few dangerous moves in the forward line. Kiran Rai failed to meet a long pass from Krishna Gopal Shrestha in the 26th minute.
“We were there to play defensive style of football against mighty opponent and we met our target of holding them,” said Pradeep Nepal, the Saraswati coach.
His counterpart Bal Gopal Maharjan was disappointed with the result. “Our target was not 1 point. We should have tried to win the match but we couldn´t. There are more matches to come and instead of panicking about results, we should improve ourselves,” said Maharjan.
Meanwhile, Army gave tough time to Himalayan Sherpa in the second match of the day.
Saroj Dahal scored in the 14th minute of the match with a superb header as he met a corner off Pukar Gahatraj and gave a lead to Himalayan Sherpa.
Army´s Bhoj Raj Ghimire attempted a header in a pass of Santosh Nepali but it went wide in the first half.
Dahal again came into action to double Himalayan Sherpa´s lead in 51st minute of the match. Dahal crossed to Deepak Rai and Army goalie Bikash Malla had no chance to stop the sublime header off Rai.
Hari Mahato dodged two defenders and shot to the target in the 61st minute but the army-man was denied by Himalayan Sherpa goalie Rupak Shrestha.
Few minutes later, Jagajit Shrestha and Army custodian Malla collided and the latter had to leave the ground.
Goal scorer Dahal fouled army-man Hiranya Magar in the 79th minute and referee Laba Khatri gave him marching order with second booking during the match.
Army pressurized 10-men Himalayan Sherpa and Deep Lama scored for Army with a cheap against advancing goalkeeper Shrestha in the 83rd minute.
Army, who had finished substitution quota by the 77th minute, could not take the advantage of 10-men Himalayan Sherpa for longer period as goal scorer Lama was sent to hospital as he picked injury during the course of goal.
In the dying minute of match, Army flourished attacks but Himalayan Sherpa denied them and grabbed valuable three points.
“They were lucky to win the match. We had more attempts on the post but their two converted into goal. And, we even could not capitalize the 10-men situation,” said Army Coach Dambar Gurung.
“The luck came to us since my boys labored hard. Luck follows who labors hard,” answered Himalayan Sherpa Coach Upendra Man Singh to his counterpart.
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