The leaders are only one victory away from retaining their ‘A’ Division League crown. Striker Bimal Gharti Magar (pictured) and winger Sunil Bal were on target in champions Machhindra Club’s 2-0 win over Chyasal Youth Club at the Dasharath Stadium on Saturday. Hemanta Shrestha/TKP
Defending champions Machhindra Club opened up a six-point lead on top with a 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Chyasal Youth Club to inch closer to the Martyrs Memorial 'A' Division League at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar on Saturday.
Champions Machhindra could seal the title with two matches in hand if they beat Satdobato Youth Club, who edged Police 1-0 at ANFA Complex, next week. Leaders Machhindra's path to the title became easier after second-placed Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) were held to a 1-1 draw by Three Star Club in the day’s late fixture.
An unbeaten Machhindra, who extended their winning streak to five games in the league, have 26 points from 10 matches. MMC have 20 points. Three Star are fourth with 17 points and Satdobato fifth on 15 points. Chyasal, meanwhile, after managing just one win from 10 matches are languishing at the bottom of the table with five points. Police are 10th with 10 points.
Striker Bimal Gharti Magar and winger Sunil Bal were on target for Machhindra but their victory was marred by the injury to emerging star Manish Dangi. The forward had to be rushed to the hospital after he sustained a head injury following a collision with Chyasal defender Yannick Ketcha.
Dangi, who came as a 65th minute replacement of Bal, lost consciousness and was rushed to the nearby Blue Cross hospital via ANFA ambulance for treatment. The hospital later issued a statement that Bal's condition was stable and out of danger.
In the early moments of the match, Chyasal's first choice goalie Arpan Karki had to be replaced after he got injured while vying for the ball with Gharti Magar. The Nepali international forward Gharti Magar opened the scoring in the 17th when he flick-headed to convert defender Ranjit Dhimal's corner inside the crowded area.
Chyasal substitute goalie Pradip Bhandari prevented further damage eight minutes later when he punched Bal's 25-yard curling freekick from the top corner. Bal, however, got his name on the scoresheet in the 35th as he applied a scorcher from the area after he found a perfect pass laid by Gharti Magar.
Machhindra coach Prabesh Katuwal expressed dissatisfaction over ANFA's medical team after the injury of Dangi. "There is no proper medical team even in the league. I learnt there was no doctor on the pitch when Dangi collapsed. The league management should be on a high alert for such an incident," he said, referring to the Euro 2020 incident when Danish player Christian Eriksen collapsed during their match against Finland.
Katuwal also said that they had come into the game with the ambition of earning three points. "Though we achieved that, the team is yet to give their best," he said.
Chyasal's technical director Leigh Manson said that the remaining three fixtures would be like finals for them. "We required three points at any cost today but they scored in two errors we made in the first half," said the Scottish. "Now we need to win all three matches in order to remain in the top tier." Chyasal will play against relegation strugglers Brigade and Friends in their next two fixtures.
In the late fixture at the Dasharath Stadium, Indian midfielder Danayanand Elangbam broke the deadlock for MMC a minute after his entry into the ground. Elangbam, who replaced Pujan Uperkoti in the 61st minute, made a tight angle header to convert captain Anjan Bista's pass at the near post.
But Ritik Kumar Khadka restored the parity in the 71st minute for Three Star after Ghanefo Kromah set him up with a short pass. Khadka applied a low ball finish from the edge of the area as the ball entered the net after hitting the upright.
At the ANFA Complex, Akash Budha Magar scored the all-important goal in Satdobato Youth Club's 1-0 win over Nepal Police Club. The midfielder netted from the penalty spot in the 19th minute after he was fouled by Hemanta Shrestha in the area.
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