Karna Limbu put Machhindra ahead with a shot from the left side of the danger zone two minutes into the second half after dribbling past defender Suman Subedi. Limbu was set up by Satya Narayan Parajuli. [break]
Defender Rabin Shrestha equalized for Police in the 67th minute with a perfect volley from the danger zone in Yogesh Shrestha´s cross.
With the draw Machhindra ended its super league campaign in the sixth position with 34 points. In the first round of the league Machhindra had finished third with 27 points. But Machhindra coach Raju Shakya was not satisfied with the team´s performance in the super league. "I am not happy with the sixth-position finish as we earned only seven points from as many matches of the super league," said Shakya, whose side had made a bright start in the league remaining unbeaten and leading the table until the sixth round.
"Expectations were high following a good start but we failed to give continuity to it. I had hoped to finish at least in the fifth spot," said Shakya, who also criticized the players for not implementing his instructions.
Meanwhile, Police remained unchanged in the seventh position in the super league, one spot ahead of the position it had secured at the end of the first round. However, Police could drop to the eighth position if RCT wins its last encounter against Friends on Saturday.
Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha attributed the team´s poor finish to injuries of his key players. "We did not have bench strength and some key players had recurring injuries. Now the team is in the process of recruiting new players. We hope to regain our past honor in the next season," said Shrestha, who termed the last match of his side as a "prestige match".
In the evenly contested affair, Rishi Prithakoti, who got a rare start from the departmental team, fired above the bar in the 19th minute from the six-yard box after being set up by Dinesh Gurung. Serge Yannick Fouda replied for Machhidnra in the 26th with a strike from the danger zone but Police custodian Ritesh Thapa punched the ball to safety. In the 41st, Fouda´s powerful shot from 25 yards rebounded from the inner edge of the bar. In the 73rd, Bishal Rai B was denied by custodian Thapa.
In the 53rd, Police midfielder Parbat Pandey´s bouncing free-kick was punched to safety by custodian Dinesh Thapa Magar. In the 87th minute, Thapa Magar again prevented Rabin Shrestha low strike from close range.
Saturday´s match
RCT Vs Friends @ 15:30 NST
Venue: Dasharath Stadium
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