KATHMANDU, Sept 7: Bansbari Club staged a heroic comeback as it overcame three-goal deficit to salvage a 3-3 draw against Mahdyapur Youth Association in the Martyrs Memorial B Division League football tournament match at the ANFA ground, Satdobato on Wednesday.
Madhyapur went 3-0 up as early as in the 16th minute but failed to protect its lead and was forced to share the spoils with an equalizer just three minutes from time.
Madhyapur netted the opener in the very first minute with Sabin Dangol scripting his name in the scoresheet. Nishan Basnet doubled the advantage in the fourth minute after his shot from close range went into the far post. Anish Shrestha widened the margin in the 16th minute.
Bansbari got the lifeline 10 minutes later after debutant Arik Bista cut the deficit with a curling freekick. Bista, who missed the initial four matches of the league due to injury, placed the ball into the top corner of the post. Om Bikram Ghale made it 2-3 in favor of Bansbari. It was Arik again to dash Madhyapur's dream after he hit the equalizer in the 87th minute.
The fourth draw from five matches has fetched Madhyapur seven points and is level on points with fifth-placed Pulchowk Sports Club. Bansbari also has equal points as that of Madhyapur and is also unbeaten with the same number of wins and draws.
Other two matches of the day played at APF ground in Halchowk ended in draws. Shree Kumari Club played a goalless draw against Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) and Divine Boys Union Club was forced to settle for a 1-1 stalemate against Pulchowk.
Sushil Rai gave a seventh-minute lead to Boys Union but it failed to hold on the lead for more than two minutes. Rumesh Bartaula hit back the equalizer in the ninth minute.
After playing their fifth match, Shree Kumari moved one spot above to fourth with eight points while RCT is joint second with nine points. RCT trails leader New Road Team by two points which also has a match advantage. Boys Union is in the tenth position with five points while Pulchowk has seven points.
Friends, Sherpa share the spoils in a goalless draw
