KATHMANDU, Feb 10: A brace from Anjan Bista helped holder Manang Marshyangdi Club cut the gap on leader Tribhuvan Army Club to just four points after it defeated New Road Team (NRT) 4-1 in the last match of the 11th round in the ongoing Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League in Lalitpur on Sunday. 

After its mid-season blip which included four consecutive draws and a 10th round 2-0 loss to Chyasal Youth Club, Manang has seen its title defense go off track as it got behind Army and second-placed Machhindra Club for the majority of the season. 

Despite losing only once all season so far, it went four matches from the fourth round to the seventh without a win and drawing all of them. That saw Army and Machhindra take advantage of the slip and quickly take over the top two places. With this convincing win, Manang has won its sixth game of the season, but still chases the teams with just two matches left. 

In the only game of the day played at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Complex in Satdobato, Bista scored goals in both halves, while Bimal Rana and Daya Nanda Singh scored a goal apiece to secure a vital win for Manang. 

Bista and Rana have now both scored five goals each for the team, which is 58 percent of the Manang’s goals. 

Manang got some chances from free-kicks in the early part of the game, but was unable to convert them and even put a demanding ball inside the box forwards to score. 

NRT was as good as Manang as far as the attacking performance was concerned. Both the teams had eight shots on target, with NRT dominating the possession with good passage of passing play, but Manang’s counter attacking tactics totally destroyed NRT’s gameplan and it went on to concede four goals. 

NRT got the first real chance of the game through Darsan Gurung, but his shot from inside the box was saved by Manang keeper Deep Karki in the 19th minute, after Krishan Kumar’s 12th minute shot was saved by Karki seven minutes earlier.

Manang’s Bista had a chance to score the first goal of the game in the 20th minute, but his shot from outside the box grazed over the crossbar. 

Nishan Limbu was furious with himself for missing an open post chance in the 24th minute and Manang threw a good chance to draw the first blood in the game. 

Manang got chances after chances in the period and all NRT could do was stay back and clear the danger away. 

Bista missed another chance after his header was brilliantly cleared by the NRT defense and went out for a corner. Captain Kamal Shrestha delivered a good corner into the box, but a header from Bimal Rana hit the crossbar in the 28th minute. 

Ek Raj Budathoki also missed a tap-in for Manang in the 29th minute showing how poor the team has become in finishing. 

But, forward Rana put that doubt to bed as he converted a superb pass from captain Shrestha in the 35th minute to score the first goal of the game. 

It went from bad to worse for NRT as Bista was fouled inside the box, and referee pointed towards the spot for a penalty kick in the 43rd minute. Bista stood up to take the shot and scored Manang’s second goal. 

Manang started the second half on attacking note as well as Limbu gave a good cross looking for Bista, but his header was brilliantly saved by NRT keeper Ajit Prajapati in the 49th minute. 

Rana then got a chance two minutes later and he went even closer as his shot from outside the box hit the crossbar again. 

Bista then went on to score the third goal for the team in the 65th minute after a dominative spell of attacking play from Manang. 

Aditya Chaudhary had a rare chance for Manang to score, but his shot from the right side went over the crossbar in the 71st minute. He got another chance six minutes later, but the shot went off target again. 

Ashok Thapa got a chance to score a consolation for NRT, but his shot was saved by keeper Karki in the 88th minute. But, Sakal Regmi pulled one back just a minute later as his strong shot went into the post for NRT’s only goal of the game. 

Singh then scored Manang’s fourth goal and totally killed the game as he converted in a pass from Vidal Luis in the fourth minute of the injury time. 

With the win, Manang has reclaimed its third position and has 22 points with six wins, four draws and a loss, while NRT stays eighth and has 15 points. It has won five games, drawn two and lost four times. 

 
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