Manish Gurung headed home the lone winning goal for Sankata in the sixth minute which ended Bansbari´s campaign. Despite getting his hand on the ball short Bansbari´s goalie Azeet Prajapati failed to prevent Gurung´s header from entering into the net. [break]
The result puts Sankata on the second place with equal six points as that of leader McDowell´s Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT), but still failed to confirm its place for the quarterfinal stage. Sankata with two wins and a defeat needs to wait for the outcome of the last group match to be held between RCT and Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa to determine its chances for the knockout round. Himalayan Sherpa is in the third place with three points.
If the match between Himalayan Sherpa and RCT on Tuesday ends in a draw or the former gets defeated than Sankata will make it to the next stage. But if Himalayan Sherpa beats RCT, all three teams will have six points apiece and the goal differences will be decisive in determining the fate of the two teams for the quarterfinal stage.
Though the match featured top tire teams of domestic football, the team´ performance was miserable.
CMG Club player Dikesh Khadgi (Blue) and Azay Poudel and Azeet Parajuli of Mahendra Basbari Football Club (Red) in action. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
Bansbari could only make one attack on target. Nir Kumar Rai´s powerful strike from the area sailed inches above the bar. Sankata missed a couple of scoring chances as well when its African recruit Samuel Ongno and Dikesh Khadgi failed to beat custodian Prajapati.
In the 39th minute, Ongno chipped above bar with an advancing goalie Prajapati as obstacle on his way, Similarly, the custodian denied Khadgi in one-on-one situation in the area after dribbling past two defenders.
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