Football
Shrestha last-gasp goal gives Sherpa victory, Manang top Sankata
The Sherpa defender scores in the injury time for a 1-0 win. Davlatjonov nets the winner for former champions.
Sports Bureau
Amrit Shrestha scored a last-gasp winner as Himalayan Sherpa defeated Nepal Police Club 1-0 in the Martyrs Memorial A-Division League at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar on Wednesday.
Sherpa had missed a penalty in the 31st minute after Ajit Bhandari floored Abayomi Oluwaseun Fakunle inside the penalty area.
Nisan Limbu stepped up to take the kick but Police goalkeeper Shatrudhan Kumar Chaudhary dived to his right to punch off Limbu’s effort. The danger was still not fended as Shrestha found the rebound in the six-yard box only to fire wide.
But Police could not punish Sherpa for their missed opportunity.
Police went close to taking the lead in the 41st minute when Rabi Paswan cut off a weak clearance from Shrestha and crossed towards the far post, but Santosh Hemran was too slow to react.
The second half of the match lacked brightness.
Sherpa captain and goalie Chaudhary was stretchered off after the hour mark. Chaudhary suffered injury after he clashed with Police’s Sandesh BK as he attempted to punch away the ball in an aerial challenge.
But Sherpa was more determined and put Police in pressure towards the end of the play, and they were rewarded in the eighth minute of the injury time when an unmarked Shrestha sent a pass from Pistone Vunyoli Mutamba into the back of the net.
The win gives Sherpa four points from two matches. Police, who lost their opener against newcomers Church Boys, remain pointless.
Manang win
Manang Marshyangdi Club registered their first win of the season after they beat Sankata Club 1-0 in the day’s late match at the Dasharath Stadium, thanks to a sole goal from Sayidjamol Davlatjonov.
Davlatjonov brilliantly finished a long-range effort in the 54th minute.
Sankata had almost gone in front in the 19th minute when double efforts from Sunil Shrestha and Manish Dangi beat Manang goalkeeper Deep Karki but Pravesh Kunwar rescued the eight-time champions with a goal line clearance.
But it was Manang who took the lead instead.
Sumit Shrestha linked up with Roshan Rana Magar to force a save from Sankata glovesman Tikendra Singh Thapa in the 53rd minute. But in the resulting corner, Davlatjonov surprised Thapa with a curling screamer from the outside of the box as the ball deflected off Thapa, hit the crossbar and went in.
Sankata’s final chance to equalise fell to Chandan Kumar Das in the fourth minute of injury time when Nishan Khadka set him up just outside the six yard box but Das' effort sailed off the bar.
Manang has four points from two matches. Sankata has only one point.
At the Chyasal Stadium, Satdobato Youth Club saw off APF Club 1-0 to maintain their winning streak.
William Opoku Asiedu scored the sole goal for Satdobato in the 55th minute.