Struggling Nepal Police Club (NPC) were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom side Morang Football Club during the Red Bull National League here at Anfa Complex in Satdobato on Tuesday.

Niraj Basnet struck deep into the second half stoppage time to share the spoils with the departmental team, who were virtually playing with a second string squad due to the multiple injuries to their regular team members.

The Policemen could not close out the match despite welcoming back defender Suman Subedi and Suraj BK in the team. Basnet shot past NPC goalie Bishal Shrestha after Raj Kumar Poudel headed the ball into his path.

Earlier, Yogesh Shrestha put NPC ahead in the 77th minute. Shrestha’s shot on goal deflected off Suren Khawas and went in as it wrong footed the Morang FC custodian Bishnu Chaudhary. Chaudhary was drafted in for injured Morang No 1 goalkeeper Kishore Giri.

The result did not make any impact in the overall standings in the nine-team league. NPC remained on seventh with 13 points from 14 points, while Morgan are rock bottom with seven points from 15 games. Three Star Club stay at the top with 26 points, two points ahead of second-placed Tribhuvan Army Club and  third-placed Jhapa. All three top teams have played 13 games each.

NPC coach Birat Krishna Shrestha blamed his players for taking the opponent (Morang FC) lightly. “Apart from a below par performance, we failed to capitalise on the chances that came our way,” said the NPC coach. “Even after taking the lead, we continued to expose our backline allowing them to pull the goal back.”

Shrestha’s Morang FC counterpart Kumar Pradhan was happy if not over the moon with the outcome. “Sharing a point with the likes of Police team was remarkable, considering we were playing with a depleted team.