In its first season in the top flight, Madhyapur is languishing in the 14th place with 10 points from 12 matches. Bansbari is a place behind Madhyapur with 6 points from 12 matches. [break]
In the day´s early kick-off, Friends´ African recruit Zikahi Leonce Dodoz and Jagjit Shrestha scored a goal each in the second half. Madhyapur held Friends until the break but Dodoz opened the scoring in the 51st minute in a counter-attack. Shrestha doubled the tally in the 81st minute through a stunning free-kick. Friends was awarded the free kick as Madhyapur defender Saroj Dahal handled the ball.
"The win has boosted our chances of qualifying for the super-eight round," said Friends coach Ramesh Maharjan. Friends moved to the eighth place with 18 points from 12 matches.
His counterpart Upendra Man Singh was frustrated following yet another defeat and admitted that avoiding relegation would be a tough task. "After successive defeats, the players´ morale is low. We have to depend on other results to avoid relegation," said Singh. "We lack strikers in the team. Meanwhile, we could not enroll experienced and top quality foreign players."
CMG Sankata Club (blue) vs Mahendra Bansbari Club players. (Photo: Republica)
Singh, also the president of Madhyapur, lamented that his side reached the top tier without adequate preparations. "It would have been better if we had worked more on uplifting the club´s financial status and on preparing the squad before starting the league campaign in the top tier," said Singh.
In the day´s late kick-off, Shyam Babu Magar scored a late goal for Bansbari forcing Sankata to share points. Substitute Sajan Shrestha provided a 1-0 lead to Sankata in the 66th minute as Kabbu Rai provided a brilliant cross to him.
However, Magar leveled the scores in the last minute of regulation time. Sankata goalkeeper blocked his first shot but Magar sent the ball home on the rebound.
With the draw, Sankata is in the ninth place with 17 points from 12 matches while Bansbari is second from bottom with six points.
"If we had pulled off a victory today, our fight to avoid relegation would have gained momentum. It is almost over now," said Bansbari coach Deepesh Yonjan.
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