In the day´s early kick off match, minnows PLO Mitramilan Club of Dharan earned its first point with a stunning goalless draw against New Road Team (NRT).[break]
With the win, Police maintained its cent percent winning run and scored nine points from three matches. Army having won only one match remained in the sixth place with three points. NRT maintaining its unbeaten run was unchanged in third position with five points. NRT has won one and drawn two matches. Mitramilan Club opened scoring in the table with one point and remained unmoved in the ninth spot.
National team striker Bharat Khawas put the departmental giant in charge in the first minute of first half injury time. Khawas headed Jumanu Rai´s goal bound header ahead of the goal line which had slipped from Army custodian Bikash Malla´s grip. Ramesh Katwal had supplied pass for Rai.
Parbat Pandey doubled the advantage for Police in the 54th minute through spotkick. Police was awarded the spotkick after Army defender Ram Kumar Biswas handed the ball in box while vying with Rabin Shrestha.
Army coach Yogambar Suwal however, said that he was unaware why Police was awarded penalty and also heavily criticized the referee decision saying the referee conducted the match in favor of Police.
FIFA referee Sachin Amatya had conducted the match. Suwal also commented that Police players had handed the ball twice during its build-up to the first goal. "The referee´s decision of not awarding handball to us became turning point which caused first goal. There were two handball committed by Police in one minute," Suwal said.
In the clash of the departmental teams, Police piled consistence pressure from start to the end and created as many as half a dozen of scoring chances. Army could make only a couple of post attacks but all in vain.
Police was in the position of taking lead in the fifth minute had Jumanu Rai passed the ball to Khawas in the six yard box. But Rai hit wide from tight angle in the open net. Hari Mahato replied to Police attack three minutes later but he shot inches wide from box with only goalie Ritesh Thapa as obstacle on his way.
In the 11th minute, Army skipper and goalie Malla punched Yogesh Shrestha´s shot with difficulty. Pandey was denied twice by Army custodian Malla, both in the first half. Though there were not much post attacks by Police players in the second half, they controlled the ball possession. Army´s another attack came during the fading moment through Santosh Nepali but he failed to achieve the target.
Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said that his side failed to cash some other scoring chances. He also lauded his players´ pace in the first half. Shrestha also refused that his players had handed while scoring the first goal. "The players are slowly adjusting with the ground which is difficult to play."
In the day´s early match, NRT had come up without its five regular players but it dominated the initial moments of the first half against Mitramilan. The remaining time of the match was fairly balanced. In the 21st minute Bishnu KC and in 28th minute Bahar Laksamba squandered scoring chances for NRT when they both hit wide. NRT missed two chances after the interval.
NRT coach Raju Shakya attributed the poor result to the absence of five players. Three NRT players -- Raghu Prajapati, Laxman Ruchal and Asim Juung Karki -- were suspended for three matches for their involvement in a brawl while Roshan Lamichhane and Jiten Karki were also not in the team. According to Shakya, Karki was injured and Lamichanne had gone to appear for an exam.
"The new players could not adjust properly with the team and there was lack of coordination among the players," Shakya said.
For Mitramilan, Lile Magar missed two chances while Prakash Budhatoki hit wide with one-on-one position with goalie Binay Shrestha. During the later stage of the second half, Suraj Limbu´s two consecutive attacks were denied by goalie Binaya Shrestha.
Mitramilan coach Sagar Ghimire expressed happiness for getting its first point. "We were in high moral as NRT was without its three vital players," Ghimire said and also lamented for failing to score despite getting the chances.
Thursday´s fixture
Sangam Club Vs RCT @ 12:15 NST
MMC Vs Himalayan Sherpa @ 14:30 NST
(Venue: Pokhara Stadium, Pokhara)
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