Earlier, new comer Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club registered the widest ever victory in the ongoing league to maintain its unbeaten run. Sherpa thrashed the only team from outside the valley and a top flight debutant Koilapani Polestar 10-1 with a hat-trick from Jagjeet Shrestha. [break]
Following the results, NRT moves two steps ahead in the table accumulating 12 points from four matches to jointly share second position with Jawalakhel Youth Club.
Both the teams have plus nine goals in their account. Despite having equal 12 points, Nepal Police Club leads the standing on the basis of goals superiority. Both APF and Koilapani from Nawalparasi remained constant in the second last and last positions in the 18-team contest. Himalayan Sherpa moved to fourth from the sixth place with 10 points.
In course of their humiliating win over Koilapani, Shrestha became the seventh player to complete hat-trick in the league and also put himself in the list of second highest goal scorer along with Bharat Khawas of Nepal Police Club, Eugene Gary of Baudha Club, Karna Limbu of Jawalakhel, Santosh Sahukhala of MMC and Shekhar Limbu of RCT with five goals apiece. Jumanu Rai of Police leads the goal scorer chart with 10 goals in his name.
Sherpa had scored five goals each in both halves including an own goal in the second half.
Shrestha´s first goal in the 29th minute also became the 100th league goal after Deepak Rai had already scored twice within 17 minutes. Shrestha netted his second goal in the 44th minute and completed hat-trick in the 60th minute to score sixth goal for the team.
Earlier, Rai had opened scoring in the ninth minute and doubled tally in the 17th minute. Similarly, Pukar Gahatraj and substitute Sunil Subedi also scored twice each while Koilapani captain Saroj Kumar Koirala hit an own goal in an attempt to clear Jagjeet Shrestha´s strike. Koirala had also scored own goal against Mahindra Bansbari Club in the league.
Sajan Shrestha hit the consolation for Koilapani in the 75th minute.
Sherpa coach Upendra Man Singh said that the team became successful in its strategy.
“Though I have expected an easy win, the huge goal margin victory was beyond my expectation,” said Singh adding, “The huge margin win will be of great importance to the team in league.” He also expressed satisfaction toward the performance of Sunil Subedi, who made a comeback in the team recovering from knee injury.
Koilapani coach Raju Pulami said that his boys got nervous after conceding early goals. “The team could not perform as per strategy,” Pulami said, who is still optimistic that his side would avoid relegation.
In another match, foreign players of NRT did their job well as two among the three of them scored for team´s fourth successive victory. Olayinka Edriskehine of Ivory Coast gave an early lead to the NRT in the 6th minute from the box in a pass of Aaron Blackie Cole, the Kenyan. Substitute Asim Jung Karki doubled the advantage in the 38th minute when he headed in a corner from Laxman Ruchal. Cole sealed victory for NRT in the 58th minute following a one-touch strike in Ruchal´s cross.
NRT coach Rajukaji Shakya expressed satisfaction toward the result as well as satisfaction over team´s performance. “The team´s rhythm is improving every other day,” said Shakya.
APF assistant coach Janak Singh Tharu pointed out the weakness of the team in scoring. “We have good scoring chances but failed to utilize them,” said Chaudhary, who sees the team´s chance of making for the top eight going slim day by day.
“The confidence level of our boys has also gone down after facing defeat in all four matches played so far,” added Tharu.
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