The result meant second-place Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) could replace leader Three Star, which started the super league with a seven-point lead, at the top if it wins all the five remaining matches. [break]
Three Star, which has lost two of its three matches in the super league, still enjoys a six-point lead at the top of the points table. But second-place MMC with 32 points has a one-match advantage over Three Star. MMC takes on Friends Club on Saturday and is also yet to lock horns with Three Star, among other teams.
African player Segun A Eyitayo scored the decisive goal for NRT in the 73rd minute. Eyitayo took advantage of a misunderstanding between defender Bijay Dhimal and custodian Kiran Chemjong to beat the advancing goalie with a cool finish from outside the danger zone .
The win lifted NRT one spot to third with equal 32 points as that of second-place MMC.
(Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
Three Star was reduced to 10 men in the 51st minute when defender Sandeep Rai was given straight marching orders by referee Shrawan Lama. Rai was punished after the last man ´deliberately´ handled the ball outside the danger zone while vying with Segun A Eyitayo.
"The match became easy for us after Three Star got restricted to 10 men," NRT coach Diken Suwal said during the post-match conference.
"We came under pressure after the red card to defender Rai. Besides this, the boys also failed to convert goal-scoring opportunities," said Suwal´s counterpart Pradeep Humagain, adding that his side still has a chance to lift the title as they still have four matches to play.
NRT piled consistent pressure on Three Star after the interval unlike in the first half when Three Star dominated the show and made as many as three attempts on goal.
Victor´s twin attempts for Three Star were denied by custodian Raju Yogi in the first half. In the 12th minute Yogi blocked Victor´s shot from the right flank paving the way for Sulaiman Olansile to clear the ball. In the 23rd minute Victor´s strike from the right side was also prevented by the custodian. In the 43rd minute, Yogi punched Santosh Sahukhala´s 25-yard freekick to safety.
NRT missed a golden chance to open the scoring in the 69th minute when an unmarked Akeen O Babatunde shot wide from close range in an acute pass from skipper Laxman Ruchal. Earlier, in the 10th minute Eyitayo´s low strike from the edge was caught by custodian Chemjong.
Humagain suspects match-fixing
Three Star coach Pradip Humagain has raised questions over the fairness of the match to be played between MMC and Friends Club on Saturday. "Friends and Nepal Police Club are strong teams in the league, but I don´t think Friends will show their mettle against MMC. The match will most likely be a formality," said Humagain adding, "I am eagerly waiting for the match." If MMC beats Friends, the former will close the gap on leader to three points.
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