Football
Biratnagar crush Chandrapur 5-0 to register first win
Biratnagar jumped to fourth with maximum four points and are level with Tribhuvan Army Club after playing a 1-1 draw against Waling in the opening match and losing to APF 7-0 on January 24.Sports Bureau
Kusum Khatiwada scored a hat-trick as Biratnagar Metropolitan City overpowered Chandrapur Municipality 5-0 on Wednesday to register their first win in the National Women’s Football League. Anu Rai and Sarita Sherpa were also on the score sheet in the day’s only game at the ANFA Complex.
Biratnagar were a consistent threat in the counter attack from the early hour and got their first goal when Khatiwada beat Chandrapur goalkeeper Yunish Rai for a fine finish. Anu then doubled the lead brilliantly, chipping the goalkeeper in the 32nd minute.
Sarita made it three after the break when her shot from outside the box went straight into the net in the 63rd minute. Player of the match Khatiwada then scored two within a span of two minutes—first taking advantage of the miscommunication between goalkeeper and defenders in the 69th minute and her third came in the 70th minute from another counter attack.
Chandrapur — boosted from a 7-1 win over Chaudandigadhi Municipality two days ago — could have leapfrogged Nepal Police Club to second had they beaten Biratnagar but instead slip to fifth in the standings with only three points from three matches. They slumped to Armed Police Force (APF) Club 6-0 in their opening game.
“We had faced Biratnagar before and expected to win. But we did not. Nor were we expecting such a heavy loss,” said Chandrapur assistant coach Chitra Darlami Magar. “We have a defensive crisis. Our key defenders are injured which has badly affected our game.”
Biratnagar, meanwhile, jumped to fourth with maximum four points and are level with Tribhuvan Army Club after playing a 1-1 draw against Waling in the opening match and losing to APF 7-0 on January 24.
“Our attacking strategy certainly worked today and players were outstanding. It is nice to walk home with three points at the end of the day,” said Biratnagar coach Paras Chaudhary.