Friends crushes NRT’s bid to reclaim fourth place

With only three rounds to go in the league, only three points separate the fourth-placed Three Star with ninth-placed Friends. Likewise, fifth-placed Sankata is only three points ahead of the 10th-placed Chyasal.

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Two goals in the space of three minutes helped Friends Club record a 2-0 win and break New Road Team (NRT)’s unbeaten run of five games in the ongoing Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League in Lalitpur on Tuesday.

NRT avoided defeat against leader Tribhuvan Army Club in a goalless draw and also held Jawalakhel Youth Club in the same result, and won the other three games against departmental sides Nepal Police Club and Armed Police Force (APF) Club along with Brigade Boys Club to keep its unbeaten run intact before Friends broke it.

The team had a chance to displace Three Star Club in fourth place and pose a certain threat against Manang Marshyangdi Club, who NRT faces next in the 11th round of the league, but could not convert its chances in the first half and gave away two goals in the second half to lose for the third time this season.

NRT, which also beat Saraswati Youth Club and Chyasal Youth Club in its first three matches of the season, also faces Three Star Club and then finishes its league campaign with a game against Himalayan Sherpa Club.

In the only game of the day played at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Complex in Satdobato, goals from Sanjog Maharjan and Warner De Carmo ensured a vital win for Friends, which has already played against the top five teams and is just three points adrift of fourth-placed Three Star Club.

It can be confirmed that Friends has now avoided relegation this season and even if Saraswati wins all of its remaining matches, it will not finish above Friends. However, Brigade Boys Club, Himalayan Sherpa and APF are still in the contention to be relegated.

Both the teams had equal number of shots and its conversion, but even thought NRT had most of the ball, it could not present a suitable threat to Friends, and surprisingly lost a crucial game that would have set itself as a top four contender.

Friends had the first real chance of the game as a long range shot from Anil Rai just went off target in the seventh minute, while Jordan Owona nearly scored for NRT, but his header from inside the box was saved by Friends keeper Dev Limbu a minute later.

The winning team had another chance shortly in the 12th minute, but a volleyed effort from Bishow Adhikari just missed the target, while NRT’s Owana’s fierce shot from inside the box in the 15th minute went wide.

NRT had another chance through Junior Nikengue, but his shot from outside the danger box went way over the bar in the 17th minute.

The team missed a glorious chance to score in the 30th minute as Arik Bista provided a good ball from inside the box through a free-kick, but Shyam Babu Kyapchhali’s header from point blank range went off target.

Friends did the same in the 39th minute as Uttam Rai's shot from the right corner of the box was brilliantly saved by NRT keeper Ajit Prajapati.

NRT was good with its chance creation in the second half as Darshan Gurung got a chance to score in the 47th minute, but his shot from outside the box was saved by Friends keeper Limbu.

Friends had a couple of good scoring opportunities through two Brazilians, but could not score.

Carmo hit a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, but the ball was just off target in the 50th minute, while Felipe De Sauza hit the crossbar a minute later.

NRT had some few chances too, but it could not convert them and then lost its attacking rhythm as Friends played with high press and attacked NRT time and again.

NRT’s Owona hit a right-footed shot from outside the box in the 58th minute, but the ball went over the bar.

Carmo had another chance for Friends in the 61st minute, but the close range shot was saved by keeper Prajapati.

Friends finally scored in the 78th minute as Sanjog Maharjan left footed shot from right side of the box went into the bottom right corner of the post for the first goal of the match.

It only took the team three minutes to double the score as a right footed shot from Carmo from inside the box went into the near post again as Friends completely closed the game nine minutes from time.

Owona missed yet another chance as his shot from inside the box was saved again by Friends keeper Limbu in the 87th minute. Despite

having many chances to score, Owona was frustrating with his finishing and let his team down massively.

With the win, Friends has climbed up to the ninth place with 14 points including four wins, two draws and four losses, while NRT is seventh with 15 points comprising of five wins, two draws and three losses.