Martyrs Memorial League champion Police was held to a goalless draw by Mega Three Star Club in its seventh league match while Jawalakhel lost 3-1 to Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club. Defender Saroj Dahal was the hero for Sherpa with two goals to his name.[break]
The result dealt a huge blow to the already slim title hopes of Jawalakhel, which dropped one spot to fourth after Sunday’s result. Both Jawalakhel and third-place Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) have 12 points each, but the latter enjoys a match advantage over Jawalakhel.
Meanwhile, Police remained unchanged at the top with 19 points. None of the teams could stop Police from lifting the title if it wins one of the next two matches. The departmental giant is yet to play against Jawalakhel and MMC. Police enjoys a six-point lead over second-place Sherpa that has 13 points. Three Star climbed one spot to fifth with nine points.
In the day’s early kick-off, Police dominated the show and piled up consistent pressure on Three Star but failed to achieve the target. Three Star remained busy thwarting Police’s attempts throughout the match. The match was played in Three Star’s half for the most part of the first half.
Police made about half-a-dozen attempts on goal but Three Star custodian Samit Rajbhandari made some heroic saves. Rajbhandari, on loan from APF, denied Police skipper and Nepal international Jumanu Rai twice and also foiled attempts by Parbat Pandey and Bhola Silwal. Unlike Police, Three Star failed to make even a single impressive move.
Police was unlucky in the 31st minute when national player Bharat Khawas´ powerful strike from the danger zone after a skilful display rebounded off the post. Earlier in the 10th minute, Rai hit wide in an unattended post as he got the ball in a rebound off glovesman Rajbhandari who was yet to take his position after saving Rai’s first attempt.
Four minutes later, Rajbhandari made a diving save to deny Rai again. In the 39th minute, Rajbhandari punched Parbat Pandey’s goal-bound corner and denied Silwal’s header in the 57th minute.
Anil Ojha and Rabi Thapa of Three Star will miss their next match, as they were booked for the second time in the league.
Following the result, Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said they are not yet guaranteed the title. “The title is not yet guaranteed, but it is within our reach,” said Shrestha. He pointed out lack of coordination, control on the ball and mis-passes as the reasons for the draw.
Three Star coach Meghraj KC said they had nothing to lose as they were out of the title race. “The match against Police was for prestige and the boys played with the same pace from beginning to end,” said KC, adding that his team plays better against a few teams including Police and MMC.
In another match, defender Saroj Dahal netted twice and Korean forward Jang Byoung Joo added another in Sherpa’s victory. The only goal for Jawalakhel came from its African recruit Gerard Mukonza.
In course of scoring his first goal in the league, Dahal gave a beautiful finish to a 15th minute pass set by Samuel Mobiru off Pukar Gahatraj. Dahal doubled the advantage in the 33rd minute, flicking a header in Gahatraj’s free-kick from the right flank.
Mukonza cut the goal deficit in the 50th minute when he sprinted a long way to beat defender Dahal and goalie Bikesh Kutu in Bishal Rai’s (Jersey No 9) pass.
But Joo again increased the gap and made it 3-1 in the 80th minute with a perfect tap in an acute cross off Kunjan Gurung.
Jawalakhel could have leveled the score in the 76th minute had Suraj Thing’s header not rebounded off the post and Bishal Rai (Jersey No 10) not fired wide in a rebound. Gerard and Karna Limbu’s strikes in the first and second half were taken by goalie Kutu. Rai (Jersey No 10) shot in the second half went inches wide.
Joo’s 68th minute shot for Sherpa rebounded hitting the woodwork and Jagjeet Shrestha’s powerful strike three minutes earlier was taken by the goalie.
Sherpa will be without Nabin Neupane in the next match as he received his second yellow card in the league.
Following his team’s victory, Sherpa coach Upendraman Singh said the performance against Jawalakhel was the best ever by his team in the ongoing league. “The boys played as trained in set pieces and the victory was the result of the entire team´s hard work,” said Singh.
However, Singh ruled out any practical chances of his team winning the title. “Now we will vie for the second or third position,” said Singh, whose side still has mathematical chances of winning the title.
Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC attributed the defeat to poor marking, unnecessary fouls and bad luck. “There was also lack of leadership in the field,” said KC in the post-match conference. “We will vie for the second or third position now,’ he added.
Monday’s Fixtures
NRT Vs Sangam Club
RCT Vs MMC
NRT Vs Sangam Club
RCT Vs MMC
Related story
Desperate search for missing girls as nearly 80 dead in Texas f...
-1764168646.webp)
