Olawale Oladipo Afeez scored one and created two others as Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) eased to a 3-1 win over Chyasal Youth Club in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League match at the ANFA Complex grounds in Satdobato on Tuesday.

The victory also kept MMC’s 100 percent winning record intact as it leads the standings with maximum 27 points from nine games, three ahead of Sankata Club which has 24 points. Adelaja Somide Oluwawunmi, Afeez and Bimal Rana scored for MMC while Devendra Tamang pulled back a late consolation goal for Chyasal, which remains in seventh with 13 points.

Oluwawunmi tucked in a goal early in the 16th minute for MMC after a perfectly weighed in pass from Afeez. MMC had to wait for almost another hour to add to its tally when the provider of the first goal turned scorer in the 72nd minute. Afeez ran on to collect a through pass from Ashok Baral, charged into the area before firing in past helpless Chyasal goalkeeper Dinesh Thapa Magar.

Rana sealed the comprehensive MMC win adding third two minutes from time. Rana was allowed a free passage into the area thanks to a defence splitting pass from Afeez as he beat Thapa Magar before slotting home in an empty net. Tamang pulled one back in the first minute of injury time, scoring from a penalty spot. Chyasal was awarded the spot kick after Muhammed Asif handled the ball inside the area.

In the early match, Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club beat Machhindra Football Club 3-1. The result meant APF retains eighth position with 13 points, only behind Chyasal on goal difference. Winless Machhindra also stays in 13th position with three points, just ahead of rock-bottom New Road Team (1 pts). It was also the first time in nine games that Machhindra has found back of the net.

Ashish Lama, Yubaraj Khadka and Rup Bahadur Lama scored for APF while Alaba Ademola Aderibigbe replied for Machhindra. Lama gave APF the lead early in the third minute following a brilliant work from Khadka, who cut past as many as four Machhindra defenders into the area before allowing his teammate to score from a close range.

It took only another eight minutes for APF to double its advantage when Khadka head home after a perfect left wing cross from Shyam Kumar Nepali. APF almost added the third only for Machhindra custodian Deep Karki to make a wonderful save to deny Lama. Machhindra then pulled back one out of the blues when Aderibigbe capitalised on a laid-back approach of APF defenders to score past helpless goalkeeper Amrit Kumar Chaudhary in the 33rd minute. APF defenders did not bother to chase a wayward long pass from midfield considering Aderibigbe was in offside position, but it wasn’t to be and the forward made full use of it by scoring for Machhindra.

Machhindra came close to equalising in the 40th minute but Aderibigbe was at fault as he failed to beat APF custodian Chaudhary from a point-blank range. APF survived some nervy moments but settled its nerve when Lama converted a 25-year freekick in the 89th minute.

Today’s Fixtures

NPC vs BBC (1100 NST)

Three Star vs Army (1430 NST)

(Venue: Satdobato)