Sports

George Prince Karki rescues point for Tribhuvan Army against Three Star

George Prince Karki of Tribhuvan Army Club struck virtually from last kick of the game to salvage a 1-1 draw against Three Star Club in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League match at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Wednesday. George Prince Karki rescues point for Tribhuvan Army against Three Star

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Ritesh Rijal

Published at : December 20, 2018

Updated at : December 20, 2018 08:27

Lalitpur

Karki’s goal cancelled out Nirajan Khadka’s 70th minute strike for Three Star. The result dealt a huge blow for both teams in their bid to chase league leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC). Three Star remain in third position with 22 points, five behind MMC and four ahead of fourth-placed Army. Surprise package Sankata club is in second place with 24 points at the end of the ninth round.

Three Star made an early foray into the Army area and only a poor finishing from Ajayi Martins Kayode in the 16th minute kept the game scoreless. Bikash Tamang’s mistimed clearance saw the ball fell nicely for Martins to score but the striker’s lofted attempt over the Army goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu went wide.

The Army club was unlucky not to have gone into break level on scores when Santosh Tamang delivered a freekick into the crowded area. The ball hit the body of a Three Star defender and rebounded luckily into grateful hands of Three Star goalkeeper Alan Neupane, who was stationed at the goalline.

A wonderful move saw Three Star take a deserved lead in the 70th minute. Ranjan Bista floated in a cross from right wing for Martins, who was at the far side, to head the ball towards post where Khadka had a simple task of tucking in for a goal. Three Star should have doubled its tally in the 83rd minute when a defensive error from Bikash Tamang allowed substitute Anil Gurung the ball possession. The veteran striker beat the goalkeeper and rolled the ball towards the empty net only to see his attempt rebound off the upright. Tamang picked himself up to retrieve the ball and play it to safety.

It turned out to be a costly miss for Three Star as Karki struck an equaliser fourth minute into the injury time. The Army team won a freekick just outside the area and Karki stepped in to convert it brilliantly leaving hardly any chance for a desperate Three Star custodian Alan Neupane. Unfortunately for Three Star it was the last kick of the match before the final whistle.

In the early kick off at the same venue, Nepal Police Club (NPC) was made to battle for a 1-1 draw against Brigade Boys Club. Kazeem Adegoke Busari sent in a fine cross into the area where Ritik Khadka beat NPC custodian Arpan Karki before firing in for a goal. NPC had to wait for another 70 minute to finally score a goal of its own. Abishek Rijal headed home a cross from Dinesh Rajbanshi to salvage a point for the departmental team. The result meant NPC remain in fifth with 15 points, one behind Army while BBC climbed a spot up to 11th with five points.

NPC coach Ananta Thapa believed his side lost two valuable points. “We took needless pressure after conceding a goal early on. We did manage to score but should still have walked away with a win. We missed some good chances late on,” added Thapa. Urjan Shrestha, the BBC coach, was satisfied to have shared the spoils with the departmental team. “We are happy to walk away with a point,” said Shrestha.

The league resumes after a day’s break on Friday.

Ritesh Rijal
Ritesh Rijal is Sports Editor at The Kathmandu Post. Before joining the Post, he worked as a sports reporter at The Himalayan Times for over six years and The Rising Nepal for two years.