Ramesh Katuwal and Jumanu Rai scored in either half for the departmental team that battled to secure its position as the eighth team in the Super League avenging the 2-0 defeat in the first round. [break]Referee Sudish Pandey gave marching orders to Police defender Suman Subedi after he kicked Abiodun Ibrahim´s head in an attempt to clear the ball from the danger zone.
Coincidentally, Three Star had lost the inaugural match of the first round to Saraswati by the same scoreline. Three Star, which remained unchanged at the top with 35 points, still holds a seven-point lead over second-placed Nepal Army Club but the latter has a one-match advantage. Police climbed two spots to the sixth position and is now level on 26 points with seventh-placed RCT as well as fourth and fifth placed MMC and NRT.
In the competitive match, the Three Star team comprising seven national players lacked proper coordination. The national players were released on Thursday after competing in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers.
Photo: Bikash Karki
"Three Star was playing only a day after the release of national players, so the team lacked coordination," said Three Star coach Pradip Humagain, who believes that his side´s performance will improve from the next match.
Nepali international striker Jumanu Rai was instrumental in Police´s victory as he assisted the opening goal and scored the second. Police took the lead as early as in the fourth minute when Ramesh Katuwal converted a brilliant cross from Rai.
Police could have doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, but forward Chetan Ghimire, who was left unmarked, shot far wide from close range in Jumanu Rai´s pass when Three Star custodian Kiran Chemjong was already beaten.
Three Star replied two minutes later through Adewumi Femi but the Sierra Leonean´s quick strike from the edge hit the woodwork. Ten minutes into the second half, Femi´s low-ball shot from a similar distance was collected by Police custodian Ritesh Thapa.
Three Star nearly conceded a second goal in the 63rd minute after custodian Chemjong fumbled a corner from Yogesh Shrestha, but Nigerian defender Victor cleared the ball from the goalline.
Police doubled the advantage in the 70th minute when striker Rai collected a header from Bhola Silwal and beat glovesman Chemjong before he reached the ball.
It was substitute Bishnu Gurung, a 70th minute replacement for Anil Ojha, who gave a faint hope of comeback to Three Star cutting the goal deficit four minutes after his entry. Gurung headed home in Victor´s corner as the ball deflected off the inner edge of the bar.
A minute later, Three Star´s three simultaneous attempts from the crowded six-yard box were unsuccessful with custodian Ritesh Thapa denying the first one.
Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said his side created pressure on Three Star denying the opponent ´space and time´ to play. "We will emerge a better side in the Super League," Shrestha assured, adding that Three Star failed to play its natural game.
Faucets removed from VIP toilet
The faucets of four basins at the VIP toilet in Dasharath Stadium have been removed two days after the completion of AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers on Wednesday.
“I am not aware if the faucets have been removed,” said ANFA Vice-president and Spokesperson Lalit Krishna Shrestha. He suggested this scribe to inquire about the faucets with Dilip Rajak, an ANFA staffer. Rajak in turn suggested to ask either ANFA CEO Indra Man Tuladhar or General Secretary Dhirenda Pradhan. Both Tuladhar and Pradhan could not be reached for comments.
The toilets of the stadium are in a poor condition and without water supply. ANFA uses the stadium more than any other sports association and also makes the most income from ticket sales.
The toilet are kept in a good condition only when ANFA hosts international matches but faucets are removed soon after the completion of such events. The Super League round of Martyrs Memorial League kicked off on Friday. The tickets for VIP parapet cost Rs 200 and Rs 100 for ordinary parapet.
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