With only two round matches remaining, the result left NRT seven points behind leader Three Star which could now be challenged only by MMC. Three Star has 42 points, second-placed MMC has 37 points while NRT and Army are on 35 points each. Army climbed one spot to third, pushing NRT down to fourth on the basis of head-to-head record.[break]
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Nawayug Shrestha stole the show scoring both the goals in the departmental team´s victory. Shrestha was on target for Army in the 33rd and 50th minutes. Segun A Eyitayo pulled one back for NRT in the 53rd minute through penalty.
"We lost vital points today and that has also dented our hopes of finishing second," NRT coach Diken Suwal said during the post-match conference. "There was lack of coordination among our defenders. Army players were superior to us in terms of strength as well as fitness."
Army´s assistant coach Babukaji Dhaubanjar opined that the win has boosted his side´s chances of finishing second. "Our hard work paid off today and the story could have been different had we won the initial matches of the super league," Dhaubanjar said. Army had lost the first two matches of the super league and played a draw in the third.
Nawayug Shrestha of Nepal Army Club scores. (Dipesh Shrestha)
Shrestha open the scoring with a textbook finish when he tapped home from the six-yard box in Tanka Basnet´s cross. He then doubled the advantage in the 50th minute taking advantage of a misunderstanding between the NRT defenders and custodian. Shrestha beat defender Dhimal and fired past advancing custodian Raju Yogi into an open net.
NRT pulled one back three minutes later through penalty awarded after Santosh Nepali handled the ball in the danger zone. Nigerian recruit Eyitayo converted the penalty. NRT´s only threatening move came in the 42nd minute when Segun A Eyitayo struck at the far post after dribbling past Army custodian Ganga Ram Deuja but his shot went inches wide.
Army could have added another in the 81st minute, but Saheed O Azeez cleared Bharat Khawas´ header in Tanka Basnet´s cross from the goalline.
Police, Friends share points in dramatic match
Defending champion Nepal Police Club and NIBL Friends Club shared points after playing a 2-2 draw in the day´s late match. It was Friends´ third draw in a row and 10th in the league. Prakash Budhathoki was on target for Friends twice while Pradeep Baniya and Bhola Silwal netted one each for Police.
Budhathoki put Friends ahead in the 21st minute beating inexperienced goalie Bishal Shrestha. Shrestha got a rare opportunity to start for the departmental giant as its first choice custodian Ritesh Thapa was out of action due to a one-match suspension.
But Baniya equalized for Police in the 40th minute tapping home from the six-yard box in veteran Parbat Pandey´s cross. Bhola Silwal made it 2-1 in favor of Police four minutes into the second half after being set up by Jumanu Rai. Rai was excluded from the starting line-up due to injuries, but Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha was forced to field him in the 30th minute as a replacement for Ramesh Katuwal.
Budhathoki salvaged a point for Friends in the 67th tapping in from the six-yard box. Cheik Oumar had rounded a couple of Police defenders before picking out Budhathoki with a brilliant pass.
Besides this, Budhathoki´s twin post attempts in the second half were unsuccessful while Jagjeet Shrestha´s goal-bound corner in the 78th minute was cleared by Police defender Rabin Shrestha. In the first half, Oumar squandered two chances and Dodoz wasted one.
Police could have restored the lead in the 80th minute, but Jumanu Rai´s well-placed shot was prevented by glovesman Toyin Bashir in a one-on-one situation. In the 17th minute, Yogesh Shrestha hit off the target from close range.
Police climbed one spot to seventh with 30 points while Friends remained unchanged in the sixth place with 31 points.
Meanwhile, there are no league matches on Monday and Tuesday.
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