A sublime Sushil KC strike from the edge of the area in injury time handed Machhindra Football Club (MFC) a stunning 2-1 win over Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League here at the Dashrath Stadium on Thursday.

Bharat Shah’s 11th minute goal kept NPC ahead until the 87th minute before a calm finish from substitute Ajay BK levelled the scores. KC’s stunning strike in the fourth minute of second half injury time completed a remarkable turnaround for MFC. It was MFC’s third consecutive win in the Super League.

“The players have been improving both individually as well as a team. I have been with the club for three months now and the efforts of players during my tenure has been incredible,” said MFC’s Swedish coach Johan Kalin. The win propelled MFC to second in the league standings with 28 points from 15 games, a point behind leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), who have a game in hand. NPC dropped to fourth with 26 points from 15 games.

Shah put NPC ahead in the 11th minute poking in from close in a goalmouth melee following a fine effort from skipper Jumanu Rai, who cut back the ball from byline across the face of the goal after beating as many as four MFC defenders. MFC came close to levelling the scores when NPC custodian Ritesh Thapa expertly tipped Rajeev Dhimal’s swirling 35-yard freekick over the cross bar on the half hour mark.

NPC made a strong start to the second-half as MFC captain Hem Gurung headed the ball inches wide of his own goal in an attempt to clear Dipen Shrestha’s curling cross from the right five minutes after interval. The resulting corner from Khadka fell nicely to Bhola Silwal at the edge of the box but the NPC midfielder’s low shot was parried away by MFC shot-stopper Dinesh Thapa Magar.

NPC’s failure to find a second goal kept MFC in the game and substitute KC calmly slotted home the equaliser after pouncing on Bishal Rai’s through ball inside the area in the 87th minute. MFC completed their comeback when a stunning one-touch shot from KC went over the goalline off  the inside of the upright.

In a frantic last moments, Jumanu came close to levelling the scores only to see his close-range header on Silwal’s cross acrobatically palmed away by Thapa Magar. “The players battled throughout the game and when chances came our way we capitalised on them,” said MFC coach Kalin.

Despite moving to within a point of the leaders, Kalin played down his team’s chances of winning the league. “MMC can go four points clear if they win on Friday. But it is vital that we win both our remaining games,” added Kalin.

 NPC coach Birat Krishna Shrestha accepted that few defensive errors cost his team dear. “ Poor defending allowed them to create chances ,” said Shrestha. “Victory would have brought us level on points with MMC. Now we must win  both our remaining games to stay in  the title hunt,” added Shrestha.