Bishal Rai ´A´ scored the lone goal to push JYC to the top of the table, with 12 points, followed by Nepal Police Club which has nine points from three games. Police, however, can catch up with JYC if it wins its match against Mahindra Bansbari Club on Thursday.[break]
New Road Team (NRT) also has nine points from three matches after beating Saraswoti Youth Club 2-1 earlier on Wednesday.
Sushil KC and Subash Gurung scored a goal each for NRT within the first 17 minutes of the game while Saraswoti hit back one in the 76th minute as Ramesh Ghising was on target.
Machhindra´s coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung said his team lost because his players thought that JYC players were in offside position while scoring the goal. “Owing to a misunderstanding our players didn´t clear the ball,” he said during the post-match press conference.
Both sides failed to make any impressive move early in the first half, but JYC finally broke the deadlock in the 29th minute when Bishal Rai ´A´ scored the winner. Rai´s header came off a rebound from Machhindra goalkeeper Bashir, who had punched a shot from Bishal Rai ´B´ when the latter apparently seemed to be in an offside position. Referee Shrawan Lama ruled in favor of the goal.
Machhindra could have pulled an equalizer in the 74th minute but Naresh Pokhrael´s powerful shot in a cross from Kamal Shrestha hit the post and the rebound was cleared by Sasendra Dhimal.
JYC also could have doubled the lead when Gerard Mukonza Mutizo set up Laxmi Shrestha four minutes from time but Shrestha´s shot hit the post with keeper Bashir well beaten.
JYC coach Kishor KC said he was very delighted that his team´s hard work got paid off.
Earlier, NRT had a head-start over Saraswoti as Sushil KC scored an early goal in a long pass from Olansile Sulaiman from the left flank in the fifth minute.
Subash Gurung scored the second goal for NRT in the 17th minute.
Gurung headed the ball into the net after Saraswoti custodian Bikesh Kuthu dropped the ball while trying to catch a free-kick from NRT skipper Laxman Ruchal.
NRT created lots of moves and had about ten good chances to score but missed on every occasion. Saraswoti too made about eight attempts and succeeded to score only a consolation goal.
Ramesh Ghising of Saraswoti missed several chances but finally scored in the 76th minute. NRT goalie Binaya Shrestha punched the ball in a cross from Durga Lal Shrestha only to be slotted in by Ghising.
Earlier in the 56th minute, Ghising had a narrowly missed opportunity in a one-versus-one situation while his tight angle shot was saved by Shrestha minutes later.
NRT also had good chance to score in the 48th minute but Ashim Jung Karki´s shot in a cross from Sushil KC skied off. Karki was close to scoring six minutes later when he received a cross from skipper Ruchal but again his shot went inches above the bar.
NRT coach Raju Kaji Shakya said his team missed a lot of good opportunities. “The boys were too confident after scoring the second goal and then they played carelessly,” he said.
Saraswoti assistant coach Pradeep Nepal said his team played well but lost due to a simple mistake by the keeper.
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