Substitute Deepak Rai scored the decisive goal in the first minute of three minutes stoppage time. Earlier, Korean player Jang Byoung Joo had hit back the equalizer in 61st minute to cancel Army´s 19th minute lead taken by Amrit Basnet. [break]
The victory also strengthened Sherpa´s chance of finishing runner up and has confirmed at least the third position. With 19 points Sherpa moved a step ahead in the points table to the second. Now Sherpa´s final ranking depends on the outcome of last National League match to be played between champion Nepal Police Club and MMC with 16 points. MMC must achieve victory against Police to derail Sherpa to third. A draw or defeat of MMC will hand Sherpa second position.
In the dramatic match, Army piled immense pressure against Sherpa during the first half but the second half remained fairly balanced. Amrit Basnet´s back-volley out of scuffle in Santosh Nepali back header stunned Sherpa in the 19th minute.
Joo levelled the scoring for Sherpa in the 61st minute when he quickly made a powerful strike from box controlling an acute cross of Nabin Neupane. Similarly, Deepak Rai, a 46th minute replacement of Jagjeet Shrestha, ensured victory for Sherpa in the fading moments when he directed ball towards post after diving Army goalie Bikash Malla slipped Som Bahadur Malla´s shot from his grip.
League´s highest scorer Nawayug Shrestha with seven goals in his name twice failed to achieve target in the first half. In the 31st minute, Sherpa golvesman Bikesh Kutu made a brilliant diving punch to deny Shrestha´s header in Tanka Basnet´s pass while Shrestha´s back volley in the 12th minute sailed above bar. Unlike Army, Sherpa could not make single attack in the first half.
In the 79th minute, Army´s Santosh Nepali´s powerful shot from the edge of bar, rebounded off the pole. Similarly, goalie Kutu prevented Amrit Basnet´s low ball shot.
For Sherpa, the only impressive move other than that of scoring, came in the last minute of the match. Jeaung Jin Ho´s shot from box after skilfully beating two defenders was denied by goalie Malla.
Sherpa coach Upendra Man Singh termed the result in the league a a great achievement. "The match was vital for ranking and we have set the winning target," Singh said. Regarding the team´s poor show in the first half, Singh said, "The boys did not play as planned." He also lauded the performance of all teams in the league. "There was doubt regarding match fixing before the league, but none of the teams fixed any match. Everyone played real football."
Three Star thumps Mitramilan
Nigerian player for Mega Three Star Club Isah Kareem netted third hat-trick of the league in its 6-1 en route of PLO Mitramilan Club of Dharan during their last match.
Nawayug Shrestha of Army and Santosh Sahukhala of Manang MMC are the only other players to score hat-trick in the current league.
Against the minnow Mitramilan, which finished at the bottom of table with only one point, Kareem netted in the 26th, 36th and 64th minutes respectively. Kareem who had scored against MMC also scored his fourth league goal.
Earlier, Subin Shrestha opened scoring in the 11th minute with his first goal of the league. Skipper Vishan Gauchan doubled the tally in the 13th minute and the other goal came from Bikram Lama through penalty. The penalty was awarded to Three Star after skipper Gauchan was tackled by Sabu Rai in box.
Subarna Samekham scored the consolation goal for Mitramilan in the 86th minute. The goal became Samekam´s fourth goal in the league.
Three Star climbed two spots above to sixth with 13 points.
Three Star´s coach Meghraj KC expressed satisfaction towards his team´s performance in the overall league. ´We had not conducted training for the league so we could not put up better show. But the performance was satisfactory,´ KC said.
Mitramilan coach Sagar Ghimire said that the league was a great experience for his side. ´The National league was gave us a good lesson and great experience. We could not perform well in Butwal as compared to Dharan,´ Ghimire said adding, ´The boys were young and inexperienced and could not put better show in pressure.´
New Road Team (NRT) will play against Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) and Police against MMC on Sunday.
Jawalakhel´s fourth place confirmed
Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club with 16 points has confirmed fourth place in the league after Himalayan Sherpa defeated Nepal Army Club 2-1. The fourth position has also ensured Jawalakhel a purse of Rs 300,000. Had Army achieved victory over Sherpa, Jawalakhel would have dropped to fifth position which meant no cash prize. Jawalakhel still has mathematic chances of moving to third place but for that Police must beat MMC by 10 goal margin on Sunday.
Police likely to dominate best players´ award
Nepal Police Club is likely to dominate best player awards in four different positions and best coach award. The best players in four positions-forward, midfielder, defender and goalkeeper-and the best coach will be awarded with a Yamaha motorbike each.
According to reliable ANFA sources, Police is likely to take four among five awards. Police striker Bharat Khawas is likely to take home best forward award. Khawas has scored two goals and has assisted for four goals.
Similarly, the best midfielder is likely to be given to Bhola Silwal. Parbat Pandey of same team and Sushil KC of New Road Team (NRT) are the other contenders for midfielders. Winger Silwal has scored three vital goals for Police and Pandey has also scored as many goals, but all through penalty.
MMC defenders Sandip Rai, Sarbendra Shrestha, Police´s Rabin Shrestha and Biraj Maharjan of Three Star are the contenders for best defenders award. Rai of MMC is the favourite among them. Rai has scored a goal and played for whole 90 minutes in eight matches played so far in the league.
Police´s custodian Ritesh Thapa is likely to be awarded with the best goalkeeper award. He has conceded three goals so far and is the only goalkeeper to conceded lowest numbers of goals. Bikash Malla of Nepal Army and Binay Shrestha of NRT are other contenders.
Birat Krishna Shrestha, the coach of champion Police is likely to be awarded the best coach. He was also awarded best coach in the last three editions of Martyrs Memorial League. Kishor KC of Jawalakhel and Upendra Man Singh of Himalayan Sherpa are other contenders.
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