Amar Dangol scored the all-important goal in the 32nd minute to hand Police its first defeat in the super league rounds. Dangol scored into the top right corner with a brilliant strike from the inner edge of the area stunning the Police defenders and custodian Ritesh Thapa.[break]
"Dangol was given opportunity to strike as he was left free," Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said during the post-match conference. "We failed to put pressure on the opponent from the beginning and RCT´s performance is also improving with every match of the league." Shrestha said he was still optimistic about finishing either second or third in the league. "There is only a four-point difference with the second-placed team and we still have four matches to play."
With the win, RCT climbed two spots from the bottom to sixth with equal 29 points as that of seventh-placed Police that dropped one spot following Sunday´s defeat. Friends also has 29 points but occupies the fifth position due to a better goal difference.
In the competitive match, RCT had included its custodian and skipper Dilip Chhetry in the starting line-up for the first time in the league after January 2. The last time Chhetry started was the match against Police in the first round of the league that had ended 1-0 in favor of the departmental team.
"Chhetry is a senior player and was not included in the starting line-up in previous matches due to his own wish. He wanted to give match experience to second custodian Prem Kumar Tamang," said RCT coach Madhu Karki, adding, "But Tamang lacked confidence in the last few matches. Hence, we have asked Chhetry to play in all four remaining matches of the league. Today he fulfilled his duty properly."
Police tested RCT custodian Chhetry in the 16th minute but skipper Jumanu Rai´s feeble shot was easily stopped by the custodian. Two minutes later, Chhetry sent the ball out of play preventing Bhola Silwal from collecting a pass from Rai in the danger zone.
RCT replied in the 25th minute, but glovesman Ritesh Thapa caught a 25-yard low strike from Bhim Darlami in Komal Khawas´ cross. In the 36th minute, RCT´s custodian Chhetry again denied skipper Rai´s powerful shot from the right side of the area. Four minutes later Chetan Ghimire headed wide from the six-yard box in Rabin Shrestha´s header pass off Yogesh Shrestha corner.
Police could make only one attempt on goal in the second half, but custodian Chhetry against punched Parbat Pandey´s 25-yard freekick to safety three minutes from time. RCT´s scorer Dangol´s powerful strike in the 68th minute went inches wide off the target.
RCT coach Karki opined that his side´s resolute defense prevented Police from penetrating into the danger zone. "We´ve witnessed improvements in every match and we achieved victory due to the sound performance of players."
Today´s Match
Machhindra Vs Army
Time: 15:30 NST
Points Table
Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Three Star 18 12 2 4 33 9 24 38
2 MMC 18 9 6 3 29 14 15 33
3 NRT 18 9 5 4 29 16 13 32
4 Machhindra 17 9 3 5 24 18 6 30
5 Friends 18 7 8 3 23 11 12 29
6 RCT 18 9 2 7 26 21 5 29
7 Police 18 8 5 5 18 15 3 29
8 Army 17 8 4 5 20 9 11 28
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