Chyasal, Brigade share spoils; Friends fight back for draw against Jawalakhel
The stalemates mean all bottom four teams failed to strengthen their bid for survival in the ‘A’ Division League. Chyasal Youth Club’s Rajiv Lopchan (right) and Brigade Boys’ Diwakar Chaudhary vie for the ball during their ‘A’ Division League match at the Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday. Keshav Thapa/TKP
Relegation-threatened bottom two sides Chyasal Youth Club and Brigade Boys Club played a 0-0 draw in the Martyrs Memorial 'A' Division League as the outcome turned meaningless in their push to avoid relegation as the sides just above them—Jawalakhel Youth Club and Friends Club also shared spoils with a 3-3 draw on Tuesday.
Jawalakhel, Friends, Brigade and Chyasal —all Lalitpur based teams—are in the 11th to 14th places in the 14-team contest which sees the bottom two sides relegated to 'B' Division at the end of the league. All four teams played their 11th round match on Tuesday and have just two matches left to avoid relegation.
The outcome of the day meant, they all remained unchanged in the standings with Jawalakhel on 10 points, Friends and Brigade on equal seven points and Chyasal on six points at the bottom four positions.
Chyasal's technical director Leigh Manson was equally frustrated with the outcome. "We are in the same position where we were in the last game," said the Scottish at the post match conference. "It was a disappointing battle and an upsetting outcome. It was not a beautiful game,” he said.
Chyasal are scheduled to vie against another relegation strugglers Friends Club in their next match and that could be the last chance for both the sides to move a step closer to avoid relegation. "The next match against Friends would be like a Cup final for us," said Manson referring to the battle against a similar level side.
Friends coach Sanoj Shrestha also shared similar views as Manson. "It was a vital match and we had arrived with three points’ ambition," said Shrestha, adding that his side also failed to live up to expectation.
In the drab affair at the Dasharath Stadium, both sides created a few scoring opportunities but failed to capitalise on them before walking away with a point each
In another entertaining game of the day played at ANFA Complex, Friends overcame a three-goal deficit against Jawalakhel to salvage a draw. Cameroonian winger Loic Njimi Kouahim scored a brace for Jawalakhel before Rup Bahadur Lama added another in the first half to give them a 3-0 lead.
Trinidadian forward Nathaniel Jude Garcia spearheaded Friends' fightback with two goals before his compatriot Jamoul Anthony Francois ensured they walked with a point with a fading moment goal.
Kouahim gave an early 12th minute lead to Jawalakhel after he found a ball parried by goalie Rahul Ramachandra Yadav in his bid to stop Suraj Jeu Thakuri's strike and the forward placed the ball at the back of the net from the crowded zone.
Kouahim doubled the tally in the 40th before Rup Bahadur Lama added another five minutes later. Friends replied through Garcia just before the half time whistle as his 20-yard scorcher in Shyam Babu Kyapchhhki pass entered the net after rattling the bar.
Trinidadian forward Garcia reduced the deficit with his second individual goal in the 69th before Francois sealed the victory in the fourth minute of the four-minute stoppage time.
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