The defending champions edge Satdobato Youth Club 1-0 to win league trophy with two matches in hand, maintaining an unbeaten record. Machhindra Club members celebrate after winning the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League crown for the second consecutive season at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar on Wednesday. Hemanta Shrestha/TKP
Machhindra Club defended the Martyrs Memorial 'A' Division League with two matches in hand after they edged Satdobato Youth Club 1-0 in the 11th match of the premier division game to secure the coveted trophy at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar on Wednesday.
Azerbaijan forward Norlan Novruzov scored the all-important goal in the second half as the Kathmandu-based side made their presence felt as a new force in domestic football winning the title for a second time.
With nine wins and two draws, they have 29 points — nine points ahead of the second-placed Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC), who have a match advantage over them. Even if Machhindra lose their remaining two matches and MMC win all three matches, the two sides will have equal 29 points. In such a case Machhindra will have the upper hand on head-to-head record.
The star-studded side that boast of a dozen of current Nepali internationals apart from three foreign recruits have maintained the longest eight-match winning streak in the tournament, maintaining an unbeaten record.
They have conceded just one goal against 17 scored in their 11 matches in the league so far. Unlike the last edition of the league two years ago, when they were made to wait until the last game to lift the trophy, they proved they have grown as an improved side, celebrating the trophy with two matches in hand.
They dropped points against Tribhuvan Army FC in a 0-0 draw in the first match of the league campaign before finishing with the same scoreline against Sankata Club in the fifth game. The team coached by Prabesh Katuwal took a giant stride to the title when they edged close rivals and second-placed MMC 1-0 in the sixth round.
The victory over the close contender not only boosted the confidence of the team, but also took them a step closer to the AFC Cup, the second tier inter-country club football tournament of Asia, organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Though the league champions need to represent the country at the Cup, the football governing body ANFA decided to send the leaders at the completion of the seventh round for the continental showpiece due to an unmanaged football calendar.
"The key to our success is unity and team spirit," MMC captain Sujal Shrestha said at the post match conference. "I have never experienced such unity in any team I have played in my decade-long career in top flight football,” the 30-year-old said, adding the victory over MMC became a turning point in their run to the title.
"We shared points against Army in the first game and NRT in the other and were somewhere in second or third position. But defeating MMC changed the whole scenario and we were also qualified for the AFC Cup," he said, adding that they would dedicate the victory to striker Manish Dangi who picked up a serious head injury in the last game against Chyasal Youth Club.
Katuwal, who won second title in his second season as the coach, said that they were successful in their plan to be crowned champions after 11 matches.
"I want to thank everyone in our run to the title. It is the player who plays on the pitch and a coach becomes useless if the players don't play well. I would like to thank them for making me a champion coach for the second time in a row," said Katuwal.
He also said that he was hopeful of making it to group rounds of the AFC Cup.
"The players are also confident of reaching the group stage and there would be some changes of players," he said.
In the entertaining game, forward Novruzov scored the lone goal eight minutes into the restart when he tapped a ball punched by goalie Abishek Baral just ahead of the goalline in his bid to clear Devendra Tamang's header off Sunil Bal’s cross.
The fourth defeat of the league campaign leaves Satdobato, the newcomers, unchanged in the sixth position with 15 points.
Three Star, Police settle for 1-1 draw
In the late fixture at the same venue, Three Star and Nepal Police Club shared the spoils playing 1-1 draw. Captain Suman Subedi hit back the equaliser for the departmental team in the second half after Ritik Kumar Khadka had given lead to Three Star before the break.
With the outcome, both Three Star and Police remained unchanged in their positions. While Three Star are fourth with 18 points, Police are 10th with 11 points.
Khadka gave the 21st minute lead to Police capitalising on Sanjok Rai's pass. Veteran defender Subedi headed in the 52nd to convert Tej Tamang's freekick and bring Police on level terms.
Army, Himalayan Sherpa share spoils
At the ANFA Complex, Satdobato, Tribhuvan Army FC and Himalayan Sherpa Club shared the points playing a 1-1 draw.
George Prince Karki gave the 26th-minute lead to the departmental team after he found a through pass from Tek Bahadur Budathoki and beat goalie Deep Karki with his strike. Kenyan forward Mutamba Pistone Vunyoli hit back an equaliser in the 65th in his solo effort. He sprinted the ball from the center of the ground and dribbled past three defenders before placing it at the back of the net. Army goalie Bikesh Kuthu was sent in the last moment of the five-minute stoppage time off after he fouled Sherpa forward Suresh Kumal, the last man, coming out of the area.
The win means Army remain stable in the third place with 19 points–one point behind MMC who have a match in hand.
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