Playing equal 15 matches, second placed MMC narrowed its gap to three points against the leader Nepal Police Club. However, MMC´s title chance largely depends on Police´s next match against Three Star. If Police wins against the Patan-based club, the title race will almost be over before it taking on MMC in the last match on Sunday. Bauddha dropped a spot below to 11th with 20 points. [break]
Sahukhala opened the scoring for MMC in the 35th minute and ensured the victory four minutes from time with his 16th goal of the league, five behind highest scorer Jumanu Rai of Police. Sahukhala is the second highest league scorer.
Taking advantage of inexperienced Bauddha goalie Ranjit Shrestha who came outside the box to collect ball despite the presence of two defenders, Sahukhala cleverly hit the ball in an unattended post to put the team in charge.
Sahukhala doubled tally in the 86th minute when his feeble shot in one-on-one with custodian Shrestha entered the net hitting the pole.
"MMC scored both the goals taking advantage of goalie´s mistake," Bauddha coach Kiran Shrestha said adding, "Now, we are almost out of the top eight race."
MMC dominated the show in first-half and frequently took the ball to the danger zone. MMC squandered three scoring opportunities before the interval. Skipper Tashi Tsering header went above the bar in the early moments while Nirajan Khadka and Bijay Rai failed to connect a brilliant pass of Sujal Shrestha just ahead of the goalline. Similarly, Bijay Gurung´s powerful 25-yard shot was denied by the goalie.
Bauddha showed some resistance during the middle of the second-half and created a few chances, but all in vain. Khum Gurung twice squandered scoring chances while Som Thapa´s header in Gurung´s cross from ahead of the goalline sailed above the bar.
MMC´s assistant coach Devendra Jung Shahi said his side still has some chances. "We played better than last match," Shahi said.
RCT thrashes United
RCT made a strong presence in top eight with a convincing 5-0 win over minnow United Youth Club. Amar Dangol and African recruit David Nkong netted a brace each while substitute Sulav Jung Rana added another to seal the victory.
With the result, RCT with 27 points remained unchanged in the seventh place while United on the verge of relegation is constant in the 16th place with six points. Bottom four teams in the 18-team contest will be relegated.
In the one-sided match, Dangol gave the lead to RCT in the very second minute when he met goalie Ajay Maharjan´s rebounder off Bhim Darlami´s left flank shot in the box. Dangol doubled the tally in the 37th minute through a header in Niraj Remi Magar´s corss. Dangol took his tally to seventh goal in the league.
Nkong made it 3-0 in the fourth minute of the first-half injury time from the 6-yard box in a short pass of Shekhar Limbu. Nkong netted yet another nine minutes after the interval in fine combination of Dangol beating custodian Maharjan. Rana, the 68th minute replacement of Limbu sealed the victory two minutes after his entry in the ground.
RCT also squandered more than half a dozen of other scoring chances.
RCT coach Madhu Karki insisted that one more win could only secure its place in top eight. RCT meets Saraswoti in next match on Monday.
Jawalakhel move to third
In the match played at Halchowk ground, Bishal Rai (Jersey no 9) and Karna Limbu scored in each half as Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club beat Brigade Boys Club 2-0.
With the win, Jawalakhel moved to third from fifth place with 32 points while Brigade remained constant in the 14th place.
Rai made a brilliant 25-yard shot to open scoring in the 42nd minute while Limbu doubled the tally in the 86th minute in pass of Rai.
Meanwhile, Brigade coach Suman Yonjan became the first coach to be sent off from the touchline. He was sent off by referee Srawan Lama after Yonjan went inside the play ground (near the d-box) in the 25th minute to appeal against the referee decision of awarding yellow card to goalie Dinesh Thapa demanding red card. Thapa had come outside the box and handed the ball.
Dangol scores 400th league
Amar Dangol´s first goal for Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) turned to be the 100th league goal. Dangol who netted twice against United also hit his seventh individual goal in the league. Among the total 408 goals scored in the league, 166 are scored in the first and 242 in the second halfs. So far, 22 penalty goals and 10 own goals have been scored.
Sahukhala misses next match
MMC´s vital forward Santosh Sahukhala will miss upcoming match against Brigade Boys Club on Wednesday after he was booked second yellow card of the league in the 22nd minute. Earlier, he was booked with yellow card in MMC´s third match against Armed Police Force in the 58th minute. On Saturday, MMC had missed forward Anil Gurung as he was shown second yellow card in previous match against New Road Team.
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