With three wins and three draws from seven matches, Friends finished the super league rounds as the team with the highest 12 points along with MMC, which holds a match advantage over Friends.[break]
Saturday´s win lifted Friends two spots up to third with 37 points, but the team´s final position will be determined by the two remaining matches of the league. Friends had started the super league in the seventh position. Fourth-placed Nepal Army and fifth-placed New Road Team (NRT) could finish ahead of Friends if they win their respective matches. NRT is scheduled to face MMC on Sunday while Army will take on champion Three Star in the last match of the league on Monday.
"Friends was excellent in the super league and earned the highest points," said Meghraj KC, who came to Friends as interim coach on loan from Himalayan Sherpa for the super league round. "We were the best team and I am satisfied with what we have achieved," said KC.
Unlike Friends, RCT had a poor run in the league and earned only four points with a win and a draw in the super league round to finish at the bottom of the table with 30 points. RCT had secured fourth position in the first round of the league.
"Amar Dangol failed to perform up to expectations after returning from the national team," said RCT coach Madhu Karki referring to the recently held AFC Challenge Cup. "The absence of Olawala Afeez also cost us dearly," Karki said about forward Afeez who was suspended for a year for manhandling the referee during his side´s match against Army.
Friends put the opposition under pressure from the beginning but had to wait until the 61st minute to break the deadlock. Jagjeet Shrestha converted the penalty awarded after RCT defender Krishna Kunwar fouled Kuber Singh, who was making his debut in top-tier football.
Friends´ African recruit Dodoz sealed the victory in the dying moments with a solo effort. Dodoz sprinted with the ball from the center and made a cool finish from the area after beating defender Krishna Kunwar.
Friends created more than half-a-dozen chances while RCT could not threaten the opposition goal even once. Friends´ Jagjeet Shrestha, Prakash Budhathoki and Kuber Singh were unlucky to be denied by the woodwork. Similarly, Santosh Tamang, Deepak Gurung, Dodoz, Jagjeet Shrestha and Prakash Budhathoki squandered a scoring chance each.
Sunday´s match
MMC Vs NRT @ 15:30 NST
Venue: Dasharath Stadium
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