In another match, Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) eased past Armed Police Force 3-1. [break]
Following the results, Three Star remained unchanged in the second spot with 28 points, four points below police that has a match advantage over the former after playing the 15th match. Machhindra retained fifth position with 24 points after third consecutive victory in the second leg. NRT and army with equal 28 points to Three Star are in third and fourth place on the basis of goal difference.
MMC climbed three spots to move in the sixth place after their first victory of the second leg with 21 points while APF just above the relegation zone (10th place) have 12 points.
A late goal from Brazilian striker Daniel Soresh sealed Machhindra´s victory nine minutes from time in a pass set by Karna Limbu. Soresh made a superb strike from about 30 yards to stun Three Star goalie Kiran Chemjong who remained helpless.
Soresh also became the scorer of the 200th league goal. Santosh Sahukhala of Three Star had scored the 100 goal.
Three Star that came without some of their prominent players-skipper Pradeep Maharjan, Anjan KC, Bijay Gurung and Sanjib Budhathoki due to injury missed a couple of scoring chances in the beginning. Striker Sahukhala squandered a two scoring chances in the first half.
Similarly, the stubborn defending lineup of Machhindra taken charge by skipper Rohit Chand also became the major obstacle for Three Star.
Three Star nearly missed a chance of taking lead in the 72nd minute when Vishan Gauchan´s powerful shot from the edge rebounded hitting pole.
For Machhindra, skipper Chand´s shot from the edge was defended by Gauchan from the goalline.
Machhindra coach Meghraj KC said that his side created more chances than opponents despite opponents enjoying more ball possession. He termed the goal of Sores as the excellent goal of the league.
Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said that they failed to utilize scoring chances. “The injury of four key players also cost Three Star,” Maharjan added.
In another match, Korean striker for MMC Kim Sun Do, Jagjeet Shrestha and skipper Tashi Tsering netted one each in their victory over APF. Ganesh Lawati pulled one back for APF.
Do gave an early second minute lead for MMC. He scored out of scuffle from a close range. Likewise, Shrestha doubled the advantage one minute before interval through a feeble strike from close range in a pass supplied by Shiva Shrestha. Unmarked skipper Tsering added the third in 66th minute from box beating the offside trap.
Lawati of APF scored the consolation in the second minute of stoppage time after getting free strike from box to take his goal tally to eight goals. Lawati registered his name in the second highest goal scorer list along with Deepak Rai of RCT and Shayan Mosavi of NRT. Sahukhala of Three Star leads the scorers chart with 15 goals in his name.
MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang said that he was satisfied with the result and now the team no more faces relegation threat. However, he remained dissatisfied with team´s performance. “The boys could not play as good as in the previous match.”
APF manager Prem Shrestha said that to concede the second minute goal was unfortunate. “The boys failed to utilize three chances after conceding early goals as there is lack of strikers in the team,” Shrestha said.
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