Saraswati Youth Club registered its first victory defeating Friends Club 3-0 victory, while Himalayan Sherpa Club (HSC) edged Jawalakhel Youth Club 2-1 to remain unbeaten in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League football tournament at the APF grounds in Halchowk on Saturday.

Karna Limbu struck twice for HSC which moved level on seven points with Tribhuvan Army Club. The Armymen stay third on better scoring record. HSC and Army are two points behind joint leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club and Sankata. MMC enjoys superiority on the standings on better scoring record.

Foreign recruits – Victor Amobi, Francis Okechukwin and Olusola K Ibrahim – netted all three goals for Saraswati which opened accounts in the standing to move to ninth in the 14-team league which is played without any provision of relegation. Friends hits rock bottom without scoring single points.

Saraswati, strengthened by the presence of three Nigerian players in its starting line-up, opened the scoring as early as in the 12th minute. Former Three Star player Amobi collected a ball released by goalkeeper Pradip Bhandari and made a perfect finish from area at the near post. Francis doubled the advantage in the 73rd in his solo effort unleashing a low strike from the inner edge of the area. Ibrahim, left unmarked inside the area, sealed the victory 10 minutes later with a close range effort in a pass from Francis.

Despite losing third match in a row, Friends coach Ramesh Maharjan was not worried about the outcome. “We won’t face relegation irrespective of any outcome and this league is our preparation for next year,” said Maharjan whose side was studded with almost all U-19 footballers. He said not having any experienced or senior players in the squad was the reason for poor run of results.

His counterpart Pradip Nepal of Saraswati said that the team played as per the match plan and insisted his side was not only dependent of foreign recruits. “We are not dependent only on Nigerian players. In fact, it was a good team work. We will try to give better performance in the upcoming matches,” he said.

The late fixture of the day saw HSC dominate the first half of the match though it created only a couple of chances before the break. In the very first minute, Patrick Private Goha side-netted from tight angle after beating Jawalakhel custodian Tekendra Thapa. Bhishon Gurung ended up firing above the bar after he was set by Goha in the 26th minute. Two minutes into restart, Limbu shot inches wide when he beat goalie Thapa in one-on-one situation.

It was the diminutive forward Limbu who made the breakthrough in the 66th when he collected a ball cleared by goalie Thapa in one-on-one situation. Limbu doubled the lead nine minutes later tapping in Shrestha’s corner from the crowded zone.

HSC lead was trimmed down in the 86th minute after a misunderstanding between goalie Kishor Giri and defender Asish Gurung resulted in an own goal. In its bid to collect ball, the defender headed at his own post with Giri chasing the ball.

JYC piled up more pressure in the remainder of the game and even came closer to scoring in the stoppage time and their Guinean forward Fofana Fode squandered a sitter. Unmarked Fode shot high above the bar at an unguarded post after he was set by Sushil Kumar Yadav. Moments earlier, HSC’s Biswas’ goal bound strike was defended by Kuldip Karki from goalline and Limbu’s strike on the same move hit woodwork.

HSC coach Subash Limbu said that his side played with an attacking intent in the first half but was forced to change the formation after break. “Though the strategy was successful, we failed to make the breakthrough. So we changed formation in the second half and that paid off,” he said.