Leader Nepal Police Club can become the champion if it beats Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club on Tuesday but the title race will be open if the match ends in a draw or the Police gets defeated. [break]
The victory was the fourth win in a row for MMC following an upsetting result in the second and third matches. The three points earned on Monday closed second placed MMC´s gap within three points at the top of table with Police. MMC has 15 points and Police has 19 points after playing equal seven matches. RCT remained unchanged in the eighth place with seven points after its fourth defeat.
To put the team on the lead, national player Bijaya Gurung hit in an unattended post from close range while RCT goalie Prem Kumar Tamang was not in his proper position. Gurung was supplied a long pass by Sujal Shrestha. In the Martyrs Memorial League held some five months earlier in the capital, MMC had defeated RCT 4-0.
In the competitive match, RCT was without its three first choice players including forwards Olawala O Afeez, Amar Dangol and David Nkang. They were booked with second yellow card in their last match against Three Star. RCT coach Madhu Karki also lamented the injuries suffered by three other key players including first choice custodian Dilip Chhetri, Prabesh Katuwal and Uttam Gurung who were not included in the playing list.
MMC created first chance in the 17th minute but Nepali international Santosh Sahukhala headed wide from box in Shrestha´s cross. Similarly, RCT custodian Tamang made a clever diving save to deny Nirajan Khadka´s powerful low strike in a pass from Anil Gurung. Gurung´s strike from the edge of the box one minute from time was controlled by goalie.
RCT also created some scoring chances but failed to utilize even a single opportunity. Shekhar Limbu could have given 13th minute lead hadn´t he fired inches above the bar from the area after sprinting long way in Resham Rana´s pass.
In the 19th minute, RCT´s African recruit Alexis Likeng failed to connect Niraj Remi Magar´s pass in the six-yard area. During the hour mark, Limbu´s strike from the edge of the danger area was taken by MMC glovesman Bishal Shrestha.
Defending his team´s under par performance, MMC coach Hari Om Shrestha said that his side took the match lightly after knowing about the absence of three key players of opposition team. "If same performance is repeated in upcoming matches it will take the team nowhere though the title race depends upon Police´s results in upcoming matches," said Shrestha.
RCT coach Madhu Karki expressed satisfaction towards his side´s performance in the absence of six key players. "We conceded the goal due to goalie´s error and the boys failed to utilize opportunities," Karki said, adding, his team would play the remaining matches to win.
NRT toils hard to beat Sangam
New Road Team (NRT) toiled hard to beat minnow Caravan Sangam FC of Pokhara 1-0 in the day´s early kick off. Laxman Ruchal scored the decisive goal for NRT in the 35th minute. Ruchal directed ball towards net from short distance after goalie Tenzing Namgyal dropped Bahar Laksamba´s feeble shot off Subash Gurung´s long free kick.
The win lifted NRT to the fifth position from fourth with 11 points in their kitty while Sangam remained unchanged in the ninth position. Sangam has three points.
Laksamba´s 30th minute header went out hitting the bar. Similarly, Ruchal, Roshan Lamichhane and Raju Gurung´s second half attempts were denied by goalie Namgyal.
Sangam´s loaned player Arjun Subba hit the post in the 20th minute while Ajit Bhandari´s sitter rebounded off the post in the 28th minute. Rajesh Gurung and Ganesh Lawati´s attempts were denied by NRT custodian Raju Yogi in the second half.
NRT coach Raju Shakya expressed dissatisfaction towards his side´s performance. "The boys did not play well today. They played individual game and took the opponent lightly," Shakya said.
Sangam´s assistant coach Bikash Gurung said that his side missed many scoring chances. "We became the victim of late finishing, but we are satisfied with the results."
Decisive match Tuesday
The match to be played between Nepal Police Club and Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club on Tuesday during Red Bull A Division National League can be considered as the final.
The leader Police Club will become champion if it beats Jawalakhel. But, a draw or defeat will make them wait until their last match on Sunday.
Police, which leads the table with 19 points, have four points lead over second placed Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and six points lead over Himalayan Sherpa Club after playing equal seven matches.
For MMC to keep its title dream alive, it must beat Three Star in its upcoming match on Thursday and Police should either lose or draw its match against Jawalakhel. Police will lock horn against MMC in its last match.
"We will fight until last moment and try to defeat the departmental team," Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC said to Republica, adding, "It will be virtually impossible to finish in top four position if we lose against Police."
Though Jawalakhel was defeated 3-1 in the Martyrs Memorial League held some five months earlier, it has always been headache to the departmental giant.
While lifting the trophy of Tilottama Gold Cup held in Butwal, Jawalakhel had defeated Police 2-0 during quarterfinal. Similarly, Jawalakhel had defeated Police in the semi-finals of Budhasubba Gold Cup in 2004 and twice in 1990.
Despite all odds, Police is determined to beat Jawalakhel. "Draw or defeat against Jawalakhel will be same for us. Thus we will play to win," said Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha, who has termed Tuesday´s match to be ´final´. "Tomorrow´s match will be final match for Police team and we prefer to play final against Jawalakhel rather than MMC. I think Jawalakhel will be an easy opponent to us rather than MMC."
Both Police and Jawalakhel are worried about injuries to some of their key players. Police defender Suman Subedi, who did not feature during the team´s last match against Three Star, will miss rest of the matches. Similarly, another defender Robin Shrestha and midfielder Yogesh Shrtestha are also injured. However, they are likely to feature in the starting line up.
Likewise, half a dozen Jawalakhel players have sustained injuries. Both Bishal Rais (jersey no 9 and 10), forward Karna Limbu, skipper Laxmi Narayan Shrestha and defender Suraj Thing are injured. Coach KC is yet to make decision on starting line up.
Tuesday´s Fixtures
Army Club Vs Mitra Milan Club
Jawalakhel Youth Vs Nepal Police
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