Sports
Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League: Sankata wins, climbs to second
Sankata Club eased to a 3-1 win over Friend Club to go equal on points with leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League at the APF Stadium in Halchowk on Monday.Ritesh Rijal
Sankata Club eased to a 3-1 win over Friend Club to go equal on points with leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League at the APF Stadium in Halchowk on Monday.
Ellon Maxwell gave Sankata the 24th minute lead but Friends drew level with a 45th minutes strike from Prezen Tamang. Tampi Ernest restored the Sankata lead by scoring in the 54th minute before Dipesh Ale Magar eased his team’s nerves scoring the third three minute later. The victory meant the surprise package Sankata goes second with 24 points, only behind leaders MMC on goal difference.
Three Star Club, on 21 points, dropped to third. Both MMC and Three Star, however, have played a game less than Sankata, who have played nine matches.
At the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Himalayan Sherpa Club battled to a 1-0 win over New Road Team, while Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) and Saraswoti Youth Club played a goalless draw. The results meant Himalayan Sherpa rose one place up to sixth in the standings with 14 points, behind fifth-placed Nepal Police Club only on goal difference. NRT is rooted at the bottom of the 14-team league with just one point from nine matches. It is yet to taste victory in the league. Saraswoti remain in ninth with 10 points and JYC in 10th with eight points.
In the early match at ANFA grounds, Bishwash Shrestha struck the decisive goal one minute into the first half injury time. Shrestha charged into area from the right forcing NRT goalkeeper Ajit Prajapati to draw forward. Shrestha then calmly placed the ball at the far post leaving no chance to Prajapati. NRT almost snatched a point in the 77th minute when a fierce Ashok Thapa strike rebounded off the crossbar after taking a slight touch off custodian Chiring Tamang Lama.
“What’s important for us is three points, which we collected today,” said Himalayan Sherpa coach Subash Limbu adding that the rhythm of the game largely depends on the quality of the opponents. “We had to sustain some pressure in the second half after we resorted to protecting the lead. Scoring has been our Achilles’ heel,” said Limbu. His NRT counterpart Maheshwor Mulmi believed his boys failed to keep the momentum going after first 20 minutes. We were even worse after conceding a goal,” added Mulmi.
The second match at the ANFA grounds was a dull affair where JYC appeared more likely to score goals with some nice moves inside the area. Almost all those chances, however, lacked conviction and venom. Nir Bahadur Ale applied a weak header hardly troubling Saraswoti custodian Pradip Bhandari in the eight minute. Olalekan Afeez Lawal’s freekick in the 20th minute also did not bother custodian Bhandari. JYC’s best chance came in the 25th minute but was let down yet again by poor finishing. Ale tamely shot into the hands of Bhandari from six yards on a cross from Fode Fofana.
After Victor Amobi Ozoanibueze rattled the bar early in the fifth minute, Saraswoti almost struck the winner in the 75th minute. Only a poor finishing from Victor Amobi kept the scores goalless as the striker, with goal at his mercy, found the side netting having already cut through the JYC goalie Tekendra Thapa.
Today’s Matches
APF vs Machhindra (1100 NST)
Chyasal vs MMC (1430 NST)
(ANFA Complex, Satdobato)