A solitary goal from Bhola Silwal in the 27th minute helped Police continue with their unbeaten run in the league. Silwal scored from the box capitalizing on a ball off Jumanu Rai´s shot that NRT Goalie Surendra Shrestha failed to collect. [break]
With the win, Police moved into the second place with 11 points from five matches played with three wins and two draws, a point behind the leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club who have played a match less. NRT are in the third place with 10 points from five matches.
Earlier, Nirajan Khadka scored a late winner in the 88th minute for Friends to register their third consecutive win. Khadka sent the ball past the net to ensure their win utilizing a corner of Ajad Pradhan after a Sankata defender failed to clear the ball from the danger zone.
Earlier, Friends had taken the lead in the 54th minute through substitute Binod Lama who had replaced Santosh Maharjan in the 26th minute. Lama scored from a brilliant header in a corner of Ajad Pradhan to stun Bangladeshi goalie of Sankata Nurul Karim.
Sankata, however, canceled the lead in the 71st minute through Ram Krishna GC. GC headed in a freekick of Nirajan Malla but Sankata were unable to hold the opponents till the last minute of the match.
Both the teams squandered a few scoring opportunities. In the 85th minute, Sujal Shrestha missed a one-on-one with goalie Rupak Shrestha. In the first half, Malla´s powerful freekick from about 25 yards went a few inches above the bar. Likewise, Ajad Pradhan´s 35th minute freekick from outside the box rebounded hitting the bar, and Buddha Chemjong also missed a one-on-one with Sankata custodian Karim.
With the win, Friends have climbed on to the fourth spot adding nine points in their kitty with three wins and two losses. Sankata, with just one win in five matches, are just above the relegation zone with three points. Sankata had defeated Jawalakhel Youth Club 2-1 in their third match.
Friends coach Mrigendra Mishra said that they were successful in their mission. He, however, lamented the team´s failure to utilize some scoring opportunities. Meanwhile, Mishra requested the referees to be fair regarding their decisions.
In another match, Police and NRT could make only a few good moves in the first half. NRT were unlucky in the 15th minute as Jeevan Sinkeman´s powerful strike out of a scuffle inside the box rebounded hitting the inner edge of the bar before hitting glovesman Ritesh Thapa´s palm while he was attempting to stop it.
In the 17th minute, Ramesh Katuwal´s close range shot for Police hit the pole.
Police will be without goalie Ritesh Thapa and defender Rabin Shrestha in their next match as both were slapped with a second yellow card each during the match.
NRT were without their regular striker Sayan Moshavi who has scored three goals so far, and Police skipper Rakesh Shreshta was absent as they were both booked with second yellow cards in their previous matches.
Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said that there were some improvements in the team´s performance. NRT coach Diken Suwal commented that they failed due to lack of scorers in the team. Both Shrestah and Suwal expressed dissatisfaction towards the referee´s decision.
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