It was Army´s first win in the ongoing super league and also its first ever win over Police in league football. [break]
Police custodian Ritesh Thapa was red-carded by referee Sachin Amatya in the 86th minute for a foul on Nawayug Shrestha in the danger zone. After collecting the ball, Thapa had kicked Shrestha who was vying for the ball. Army´s Raju Tamang easily converted the penalty to seal the historic win for his side. Thapa was replaced by second-choice custodian Bishal Shrestha.
Tension ran high after Thapa was sent off. The Police supporters from VIP parapet broke more than a dozen plastic seats and hurled them toward the ground along with water bottles and other objects.
Volunteer collect pieces of chairs thrown by rowdy crowd. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
The incident obstructed the match for about five minutes. Police players, coach and other officials had to plead the supporters not to throw such objects. The match was also attended by some of high-ranking Police and Army officials.
Police had equalized one minute after Army took the lead. But Police skipper Jumanu Rai´s diving header was ruled offside.
"Hurling of objects was disappointing and we tried to stop the spectators from doing so," Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said during the post-match conference. He, however, opined that the referee´s decision to award penalty was wrong. "It was not an intentional foul. Nawayug Shrestha had gone down during mix-up with Thapa as he was chasing the ball in high speed," said coach Shrestha, adding that the goal scored by his side was not offside.
Army´s assistant coach Babukaji Dhaubanjar, however, claimed that the foul was deliberate. "It was an intentional foul committed by the custodian after gripping the ball," said Dhaubanjar, adding that his team´s performance was improving.
Meanwhile, the win lifted sixth-placed Army two spots to fourth with equal 32 points as that of Machhindra that lies fifth on the basis of goal difference. Police remained unchanged at the bottom of the table with 29 points following its second defeat in a row. The defeat also ended all possibilities of winning the league title for Police. Leader Three Star has 39 points with only three round matches to play.
Police coach Shrestha opined that his side´s chance of finishing second had also almost ended. "Our chance of finishing second now rests upon the results of other teams."
Tribhuvan Army Club players celebrate goal. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
Earlier, in the fast-paced match, Army dominated the first half and created as many as four chances. Army could have taken the lead in the 18th minute, but Tanka Basnet failed to score in an open net as he fired above the bar from the six-yard box. Basnet had received the ball in the area following a deflection off a Police defender.
In the third minute Basnet of Army fired wide from close range. In the 14th, Basnet´s powerful freekick from 30 yards was punched to safety by custodian Thapa. During the half-hour mark, Bharat Khawas headed wide in Tanka Basnet´s cross. In the first minute of six-minute injury time, Police´s second choice custodian Bishal Shrestha made a long stretched dive to prevent Raju Tamang´s freekick taken from the edge.
Police could not make any remarkable attempts in the first half. Defender Rabin Shrestha´s strike for Police in the 74th from the area went off the target. Police wasted as equalizing chance during the fading moments of the match when Dinesh Gurung headed above bar the in Rabin Shrestha´s cross.
Saturday´s matches
MMC Vs Machhindra @ 13:30 NST
Three Star Vs RCT @ 15:30 NST
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