Football
Sankata edge New Road Team 1-0
Dipesh Ale Magar’s first-half goal seals the first victory of this campaign for the last season’s runners-up.Prarambha Dahal
Sankata squeezed to a 1-0 win over New Road Team in the Martyrs’ Memorial ‘A’ Division League—their first of this season—at the Dashrath Stadium on Saturday.
A ninth-minute strike from Dipesh Ale Magar helped the last season's runners-up secure three points in the closely contested match. Magar made no mistake with his sliding effort at the far post after collecting a pass from captain Amit Tamang from inside the area.
Prakash Budhathoki, the New Road Team captain, could have equalised in the 17th minute, but Tamang frustrated the opposition with a goal-line clearance.
NRT had two more opportunities in less than two minutes. But striker Rajesh Pariyar shot over the bar from inside the area in the 24th minute, and Darsan Gurung's chip a minute later was saved by Sankata custodian Binaya Shrestha.
Magar was in action yet again, firing a cross into the area three minutes from halftime which found Ajayi Martins Kayode. However, the Nigerian’s header was comfortably saved by NRT ’keeper Ajit Prajapati.
NRT could have found themselves at level terms on the stroke of halftime, but Jordan Jr Ndemba Owona's overhead shot sailed over the bar.
Budhathoki and Arik Bista made two goalline clearances three minutes into the second half as NRT were able to contain the deficit at 1-0.
A Tamang freekick from outside the area was blocked by a diving Prajapati in the 53rd minute after Martins was fouled by Andre Thierry Biyik Biyik.
NRT kept pushing forward in search of an equaliser but to no avail. In the 69th minute, Gurung made a long-range effort from outside the area. But Shrestha denied him, with a fingertip save. In the resulting corner, Biyik Biyik's header was comfortably grabbed by Shrestha yet again.
After a series of off-side calls, forward Budhathoki finally found Gurung with a measured pass in the 77th minute. Gurung made an impressive run with the ball with only the custodian to beat. But he shot into the custodian.
Three minutes on, NRT thought they had an equaliser as Jordan found the back of the net. But Cameroonian forward Owona was adjudged offside by the linesman.
Martins could have doubled Sankata's lead to seal a 2-0 win nine minutes before the regulation full-time whistle but he couldn't direct his header into the post with the Prajapati off way his position.
Sankata coach Bijay Maharjan was content with his side’s performance. “We needed to win today at any cost, and I’m glad about the performance of the team,” he said.
“One goal cushion is never enough in football. NRT shifted their gears in the second half and that put some pressure on us. But our goalkeeper Binaya Shrestha was at his best to deny them in several occasions,” Maharjan added.
Despite the defeat, NRT coach Raju Kaji Shakya put on a brave face, saying, “Conceding the first goal was our bad luck. We made a minor error early on due to confusion at the back.”
“The way our boys fought back gives us confidence. While we could not score, the signs are promising. It’s still early days in the season, I’m confident of better performance in the next matches as they are gelling with each match,” said the former Nepal national team captain and coach.
Earlier in the day, Jawalakhel Youth Club brushed aside Saraswoti Youth Club 1-0. Departmental side Armed Police Force play Himalayan Sherpa Club at the Dashrath Stadium in the only match on Sunday. The match begins at 3pm.