Jagjeet Shrestha inspired Sherpa to come from a goal deficit to beat Machhindra FC 3-1 and Army sealed 4-0 win over new comer Mahindra Bansbari FC with all four goals coming in the second half.[break]
Shrestha scored twice for the Sherpa and set pass for Pukar Gahatraj to hit back the equalizer. Gahatraj cancelled Machhindra´s lead in the 31st minute, two minutes after conceding goal. Gahatraj made a slight finishing touch to direct ball toward net, inches away from the pole in a long pass from Shrestha. Earlier, Machhindra had taken lead through Suraj Gurung´s powerful strike from a close range in a pass of Pukar Ale. Shrestha doubled tally five minutes after interval when his powerful shot from the box entered hitting inner edge of the bar. He sealed the match in the fading moment, beating an offside trap and goalie Bishal Magar in a brilliant pass of Castory D Mumbara, the Tanzanian midfielder.
Despite the outcome of the match coming in their favor, Sherpa players failed to put up well coordinated show. However, Sherpa coach Upendra Man Singh defended his side´s performance citing it as their first match of the league. “There was lack of coordination among players as it is the first match of the league,” Singh the former national team captain and an assistant coach of national squad said.
Earlier, Sherpa could have taken the first minute lead had Dinesh Singh Khadka (Pale) not defended Gahatraj´s shot from the goal line after Machhindra custodian Magar had dropped the easy shot. In the 65th minute, Shrestha was unlucky as his volley attempt rebounded hitting the pole. Machhindra which had finished in sixth position in the last edition of league could make only a couple of post attempts.
Machhindra coach Tshering Lopsang said that his sides focus this season was to avoid relegation. Speaking about the encounter, he said that the match was between title contender and team fighting to save relegation. “There were many young players and four players of the set could not feature today due to registration process,” Lopsang said.
In another match, Army piled up consistent pressure from the beginning but failed to find the back of the net due to poor finishing. Despite creating about half a dozen attractive moves, Army could not achieve the target. But in the second half, Tanka Basnet, skipper Bikash Malla, Santosh Nepali and substitute Chakra Bahadur Tamang scored respectively in registering comprehensive victory.
Basnet hit the opener five minutes after interval. Basnet calmly took his time and lashed in a powerful shot from close range in a pass of Hiranya Magar.
Custodian Malla doubled the tally in 57th minute through penalty after Hari Mahato was stumbled by Dil Bahadur Tamang in the box. Nepali netted the third from the box and Tamang, a replacement of Nawayug Shrestha sealed the victory in 88th minute, 15 minutes after his entry in ground.
Army coach Dambar Singh Gurung said that his team failed to perform as per his expectations. “The boys missed 5-6 chances in the first half and it was not an easy match,” Gurung, who has fixed his eyes in the title, said.
Bansbari coach Hari Om Shrestha said that there was no coordination among forwards and midfielders. “Our target is to remain in the league and we will field three foreign players in days to come,” Shrestha said, adding, he was unable to field them as they are yet to bring ITC (International Transfer Certificate).
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