Deepak Rai´s goal from a header five minutes from time helped Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club earn a 1-1 draw against Mega Three Star Club. Earlier, Nepal Army Club was held to a goalless draw by Swoyambhu Club.[break]
Buddha Chemjong had surprisingly put Three Star ahead in the 25th minute in a counter attack. Bishan Gauchan of Three Star sprinted forward with the ball from the center and fed a pass to Rajkumar Ghising. Ghising then set up Chemjong who sent the ball past the net beating custodian Rupak Shrestha.
A minute earlier, Rai of Himalayan Sherpa narrowly missed a scoring chance as he was blocked by goalie Kiran Chemjong in a one-on-one situation, and Jagjeet Shrestha´s strike on the rebound was cleared by Three Star defender Bikash Singh Chhetri.
“We conceded the goal in counter attack as the boys were not in their proper positions after making the attacking move,” said Himalayan Sherpa coach Upendraman Singh after the match.
Rai hit back the equalizer through a flicking header from close range in a pass from substitute Dinesh Karki to stun Three Star goalie Chemjong, who had made some heroic saves earlier. Karki, who replaced Ritesh Malla in the 59th minute, was playing his debut league match for Himalayan Sherpa.
The result puts Himalayan Sherpa fourth in the table with seven points, two points behind leader Nepal Police Club and Jawalakhel Youth Club who have earned nine points playing three matches apiece. Manang Marshyangdi Club occupies the third position with equal seven points.
In the competitive match, both the teams created some attractive opportunities. Three Star made four attempts on goal while Sherpa made twice as many.
In the sixth minute, Castory D Mumbara´s header for Himalayan Sherpa was saved by Chemjong, and on 56 minutes too Mumbara was denied. In the 47th minute Chemjong punched Som Bahadur Malla´s strike to safety. Similarly, the Three Star goalie also saved a brilliant free-kick from Himalayan Sherpa skipper Sagar Thapa.
Three Star made the first attempt on goal in the 15th minute through defender Bishnu Sunwar in Anil Ojha´s corner kick but it was denied by goalie Rupak Shrestha. In the 20th minute, Bishan Gauchan´s volley sailed inches above the bar and Biraj Maharjan´s 35-yard free-kick hit the crossbar.
Three Star, which had lost its second match against Mahindra Bansbari Club, has climbed up one spot to eighth after three matches. Three Star is the runner-up of the last edition. Army is in the ninth spot with four points following a win, a loss and a draw, while Swoyambhu is in the 13th spot with two points following two draws and a loss.
“I was very much optimistic that we could score the equalizer,” Himalayan Sherpa coach Singh said, describing the draw as an achievement. “To play a draw with a team like Three Star is an achievement and it will help boost our morale.”
Singh´s counterpart Meghraj KC commented that his side failed to earn full three points due to the silly mistake of the goalie. He said, “Chemjong made brilliant saves but conceded an easy goal.”
Earlier, Army which had come up without five regular players in its squad, failed to beat newcomer Swoyambhu. The Army line-up did not feature striker Deep Lama, skipper Bikash Malla, Ram Kumar Biswas and Nawayug Shrestha.
“I had anticipated such a result as about half-a-dozen players of the set could not play today due to injuries,” Army coach Dambar Gurung said. “There was lack of coordination due to the absence of senior players.”
Swoyambhu coach Raju Lama lamented the lack of strikers in his side. “We will come up with two African players in the next match, a striker and a custodian.”
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