A header goal from Asim Jung Karki in the 13th minute in a counter attack became sufficient for NRT to seal a 1-0 victory over Friends Club and extend its winning run to five matches. [break]
Following the win, NRT confirmed top spot with 15 points at least for 72 hours (Sunday). Friends, which had won only opening match against Swayambhu Club, remained unchanged in the 10th position.
In another match, the departmental team APF, despite playing with one more man for 77 minutes slumped 1-0 against Bauddha Football Club. Bauddha were restricted to 10-man after its African player Mamboo Lindenen was given marching order by referee Sachin Amatya in the 13th minute for offensive expression against the referee after he was shown a yellow card.
After Amatya booked Lindenen, Bauddha skipper Rajesh Shahi confronted the referee while some of the Bauddha Club´s member created scene protesting the decision. The heated situation interrupted the match for more than five minutes.
Khum Gurung hit the decisive goal in the 37th minute for Bauddha through a free-kick. Freekick taken by Gurung from near the corner spot stun APF goalie Sabin Regmi who was making his debut in the current league.
Bauddha climbed to the seventh position moving a step ahead in the points table with 10 points while APF is second from the bottom without a single point in the 18-team contest.
APF piled up immense pressure over Bauddha and created as many as three clear scoring opportunities in the first half. Ganesh Lawati twice failed to beat Bauddha goalie Binod Dangol in one-on-one position in the 29th and 34th minute while he again hit wide in an open net in a cross from Amir Shrestha.
In the second half too, APF controlled the ball possession but failed to penetrate through stubborn defending line up of Bauddha. APF created only one chance but could not utilize in changing the fate of match as Top Bista´s unbalanced shot from box went high above the bar.
“We played defensive in the second half after scoring the goal and I am satisfied with the performance,” said a cheerful Bauddha coach Kiran Shrestha. APF assistant coach Janak Singh Tharu said missing three clear scoring chances in the first half cost dearer for his side. “We were under pressure after failing to score though the match was 70/30.” He also said that APF´s chances of making it to super eight was growing slimmer every day.
Earlier, the young guns of NRT could not put up balanced and well coordinated show compared to their previous matches in which they created more scoring opportunities than Friends. Despite the defeat Friends came up with improved show.
Laxman Ruchal was unfortunate in the 23rd minute when his two consecutive attacks could not found the back of net. First, he was blocked by Friends goalie Sagar Gurung and in rebounder his shot hit the woodwork. Seven minutes later Aron Blakie Cole´s header hit the pole.
In the second half too NRT squandered two chances.
Surendra Tamang saw his effort of opening the score for NRT blocked by goalie Raju Yogi and Azad Pradhan´s strike in the rebound was cleared from the goalline by Jeetendra Karki. Friends attempt to level the scoring twice was denied by goalie Yogi.
NRT coach Rajukaji Shakya said that his side could not put up the same level of performance as in the previous matches. Friends coach Paras Chaudhary said that his side failed in achieving its target of gaining three points. He also hinted that he would release two African players from his squad.
“Prince Paul and Zigro Thierry shall be released as they are not up to our expectations,” Chaudhary said.
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