The defeat also ended Friends´ 13-match unbeaten run in the league. Coincidentally, Friends´ last defeat in the league was also against Three Star in the first leg when it had lost the match by the same scoreline.[break]
Santosh Sahukhala scored the lone goal of the match in the 52nd minute of the match held at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Tuesday. Sahukhala broke the deadlock after receiving a pass from Bijay Gurung in the danger zone. Moments before the goal, Biraj Maharjan had received a long pass, sprinted forward into the area and passed it to Gurung, who failed to convert the chance.
However, Three Star punished Friends in the same minute as the latter failed to make a long clearance.
Sahukhala had a chance to double the lead in the 73rd minute but Friends´ goalkeeper Basir Ibrahim Toyin made a good save in a one-on-one situation.
Three Stars players celebrate goal against NRT. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
Earlier, Three Star´s foreign recruit Adewumi Femi wasted two chances in the first half. His header in the 11th minute sailed above the bar while he shot high in a sublime pass from Sahukhala in the 20th minute.
Friends had a chance to take an early lead in first half but Cheikh Oumar Diarra missed a sitter in the 33rd minute. Prakash Budhathoki fed an acute pass to an unmarked Diarra but his shot was easily saved by Three Star goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong.
In the 80th minute, Chemjong again denied Diarra from scoring. Diarra´s flicked header in a free-kick off Jagjeet Shrestha was saved by Chemjong.
Three Star is on the top with 38 points from 17 matches, nine points ahead of second-place Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC). MMC has played only 16 matches. Friends Club is in the fifth place with 28 points from 17 matches.
"It was not the natural game of Three Star but I´m happy to secure crucial three points at this stage," said Three Star coach Pradeep Humagain. "We have our next match on Thursday. We have to play the match without adequate rest but I hope we will be able to put up an improved performance," he added.
Friends Club interim coach Meghraj KC said his team came under unnecessary pressure in the second half and conceded the goal. "Otherwise, we had put up a good show in the first half," said KC.
NPC beats NRT 2-1
Veteran midfielder Parbat Pandey, who was celebrating his seventh marriage anniversary on Tuesday, scored the winner for Nepal Police Club as the defending champion came from a goal down to beat New Road Team (NRT) 2-1 in the second match of the day at the Dasharath Stadium.
NRT took the lead in the fifth minute of the match. Akeen O Babatunde struck from the edge of the area with a powerful shot that left NPC goalie Ritesh Thapa clueless.
NRT maintained the lead in the first half as Jumanu Rai blasted the ball above the bar in Chetan Ghimire´s pass in the 36th minute.
NPC dominated the match after the interval. Bhola Silwal leveled the scores in the 49th minute. Silwal´s header in Ghimire´s cross entered the net despite NRT goalkeeper Raju Yogi´s attempt to punch it away.
Pandey scored the winner in the 73rd minute for NPC. Pandey scored from point blank range in a rebound after Yogi blocked his initial attempt. Chetan Ghimire had set up the goal for Pandey in the area after receiving a cross from Jumanu Rai.
Earlier in the 63rd minute, NPC custodian Ritesh Thapa came out of the area and denied NRT forward Babatunde in a one-on-one situation.
NRT was limited to 10 men in the 85th minute as substitute Sushil KC received marching orders following two bookings. KC was first booked in the 83rd minute for arguing with assistant referee Rajesh Shrestha.
However, NRT coach Diken Suwal blasted the referee´s decision and claimed that his team would not play if Mahat were to officiate the remaining league matches of NRT. "NPC players outplayed our team in the second half," said Suwal.
NRT is in the fourth position with 29 points from 17 matches. NPC also has equal points but is in the third place on the basis of head-to-head record.
"We stopped leader Three Star in the opening super league match but other teams could not take advantage," said NPC coach Birat Krishna Shrestha. NPC had started the super-eight round at the bottom of the table with 23 points.
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