With the victory, Jawalakhel climbed one spot to second with 12 points cutting the gap with league leader Nepal Police Club to three points. Both Jawalakhel and Police have played five matches. Mitramilan remained unchanged in the ninth spot with one point. [break]
Limbu scored the fastest goal of the league just two minutes into the game to put Jawalakhel in charge. Limbu sprinted a long way with the ball before beating goalie Sandip Thapa to give an early setback to Mitramilan. Earlier, Police player Bhola Silwal had scored the fastest goal in the fourth minute during Police’s 4-1 win over Sangam FC of Pokhara on the inaugural day of the league.
Limbu scored the second goal for his team -- his third in the league -- during the fading moments of the first half with a one-touch strike from the box in a pass from skipper Laxmi Narayan Shrestha.
Prakash Budhathoki, on loan from Friends Club for the National League, pulled one back for Mitramilan in the 63rd minute with his solo effort in a counter-attack.
Jawalakhel, though without three first choice players in the starting line-up -- regular goalie Dipesh Thapa Magar, midfielder Prabin Karki and Bishal Rai (Jersey No 10) -- dominated the show and created frequent attractive moves.
Minnow Mitramilan showed some resistance and made a couple of other impressive attempts on goal after the interval, but could not turn the match in its favor. Santosh Tamang’s 25-yard freekick in the 80th minute was quickly punched away by Jawalakhel’s second choice goalie Min Basnet. Earlier, Budhathoki’s 58th minute shot from the box went inches wide from the post.
Raj Paudel and Jawalakhel skipper Shrestha were denied in a one-on-one position by Mitramilan goalie Sandip Thapa in the 20th and 67th minutes respectively. Similarly, Bishal Rai’s (Jersey No 9) 52nd minute volley sailed inches above the bar, while Gerard Mukonza and Paudel’s second-half strikes from the box were denied by the goalie. In the 71st minute, Sabu Rai defended Mukonza’s header from the goalline.
Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC said that every match of the tournament was vital for the team as it was eying the title. “Today we fielded some new players as we were confident of victory,” said KC, who lamented the poor finishing of his side despite ample scoring opportunities.
Mitramilan coach Sagar KC said he was satisfied with his team’s performance. “We were better in the second half and created about half-a-dozen chances,” he added.
Army, Three Star share points
Nepal Army Club and Mega Three Star Club shared points after a goalless draw in the day’s kickoff .
The result left Three Star unchanged in the fourth position with eight points, while Army climbed one spot to fifth with seven points following its first draw in the league. Both the teams have played five matches apiece.
Army piled pressure on Three Star despite the latter fielding three Nepali international and three foreign players for the first time in the league. Army created about half-a-dozen attractive chances while Three Star could create only a couple of scoring opportunities.
Nawayug Shrestha’s 57th minute header for Army in Santosh Nepali’s cross hit the woodwork, while Hari Mahato’s shot from close range in the third minute was denied by Three Star goalie Kiran Chemjong.
Hiranya Magar’s two freekicks in the second half were caught by Chemjong. Shrestha’s free-kick in Tanka Basnet’s pass in the dying moments went inches wide.
Buddha Chemjong’s powerful strike from the arch of the box for Three Star was brilliantly dived and saved by Army custodian Bikash Malla. Anil Ojha’s 64th minute free-kick went inches away from the post.
Following the draw, Army coach Yogambar Suwal said his team’s title hopes were getting slimmer. “There is very low practical chance for Army to win the title and now we will vie for the top four positions.”
Three Star coach Meghraj KC said that his side had not put up a spirited show in the national league. “The team was not properly set on the new ground with three new foreign players,” KC said.
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