Three Star inches closer to title

KATHMANDU, Oct 13: Nigerian forward Olawale O Afeez netted twice for Three Star Club on Tuesday to earn 3-1 win over Armed Police Force (APF) in its penultimate match to inch closer to the title of National League football tournament played at the ANFA ground, Satdobato, Lalitpur.

The win not only restored Three Star on summit of the standings but also strengthened its title hopes. Three Star could now lift the champions crown even if it plays draw against arch rival Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in the last fixture of the tournament scheduled for Saturday.

Three Star coach Rajendra Tamang, however said that his side would play last match for win rather than draw even though a draw will be sufficient for being crowned champion. “The team will be defensive if we go for a draw, thus I don’t want to change the momentum. We will play for the win and lift the title in our next match,” Tamang said at the post match conference.

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After the outcome against APF, Three Star regained top spot with 32 points, two points ahead of second placed Tribhuvan Army Club and four ahead of MMC, the two title contenders. MMC however has a match advantage over Three Star and it could snatch the title in the condition it wins remaining two fixtures. MMC is scheduled to take on Nepal Police Club in its penultimate match on Wednesday.

Along with Three Star and MMC, Army too has mathematical chance of winning trophy but it depends upon the outcome of other teams besides requiring must win result over arch rival Police on Friday. Army could win the title in the condition Police holds or beat MMC and the latter beats Three Star in the last match.

In the closely contested affair On Tuesday, Olawale was prized with an early fifth minute goal owing to defensive mistake of Saroj Koirala. Olawale guided the ball at the back of net after exchanging passes with Bikram Lama and then slamming in low strike after Saroj failed to clear ball despite stealing it.

The Ivorian made it 2-0 in the 24th minute providing a huge blow to APF’s ambition of comeback. Afeez netted in the counter attack after he received long pass from Nirajan Khadka and then must a perfect strike low strike to beat goalie Bikram Gurung. It was sixth goal of the forward in league.

APF made a bright start in the second half and was rewarded with goal five minutes after the break. Skipper Ganesh Lawati cut the goal deficit when he collected ball in the counter attack and shot it beyond the reach of Nepali international goalie Kiran Chemjong.
Three Star however restored two goals cushion after midfielder Bijay Gurung cleverly netted in the 67th minute. Gurung collected a short freekick from skipper Sagar Thapa, flicked the ball past goalkeeper and rolled the ball at open net.

APF coach Krishna Thapa expressed satisfaction with his side’s performance despite the defeat. “Though we are inferior on the basis of score the scenario of the match was different. The level of ball possession and strike on goal was even. But the opponent players utilized chances while we failed,” he said. He also highlighted lack of commitment at the later stage of tournament by contract players. “All the members who started today were departmental players since the contract based players do not perform well at the end.”