Machhindra Club’s newly appointed coach the veteran Kishor KC got a winning start to his top tier campaign this season after his side edged Sankata Club 2-1 in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar on Sunday.

Goals from Nepali international Bimal Gharti Magar and Nigerian forward Olawale Afeez in either side of half time sealed the victory for last two edition champions Machhindra despite youth forward Manish Dangi hitting back for Sankata.

KC, taking the charge of the team for the first time in the league, replaced Prabesh Katuwal after the latter stepped down following his appointment as the assistant coach of the Nepali national men’s football team.

Elated after the win, coach KC said that he had joined Machhindra with the ambition of retaining the title. “I have taken the responsibility with ambition of winning the title. Though it's a challenging job I am ready and happy to face it,” said KC, who was in the similar role with Jawalakhel Youth Club last season.

After stumbling in their first two matches, Machhindra stretched their unbeaten run to fifth match and came level with Sankata on nine points. But they are behind seventh placed Sankata on goal difference.

Gharti Magar broke the deadlock in the 19th minute beating goalie Tikendra Thapa in one-on-one situation to score for the second game in a row. He had rescued a point in a 1-1 draw against Himalayan Sherpa Club in the last game.

Sankata squared the game two minutes later after Nepali international Dangi capitalised on a pass of Aayush Ghalan and unleashed from outside the area to send the ball past glovesman Bishal Shrestha.

Machhindra restored their lead promptly after the restart through Afeez with his third goal of the league. The Nigerian forward applied a quick one-touch finish to convert Nishen Subba’s low cross from the close range. Though the ball landed straight at goalie Karki’s hand, his attempt to block it went in vain as the ball flew over him at the back of the net.

After Sankata’s second defeat, coach Salyan Khadgi admitted that the outcome was a big blow to his side’s title ambition. “The outcome will have a huge impact on our title ambition. We are not moving in the right direction to achieve our ambition,” said Khadgi.

Machhindra defender Chhiring Gurung picked up a head injury after colliding with teammate Pujan Uperkoti in the stoppage time. He was rushed to a nearby hospital after primary treatment on the ground.

Satdobato fight back for thrilling draw

In the late fixture, Satdobato Youth Club recovered three times to draw 3-3 against Tribhuvan Army Club in a thrilling match at the Dasharath Stadium.

Army took the lead in the 4th minute through Gillespye Jung Karki’s header.

Satdobato went back into the game in the 25th minute when Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri’s left-footed shot deflected off Bikash Khawas before finding the net.

Jung Karki put Army in front again in the 39th minute after the Satdobato defenders failed to clear the ball in the six-yard box.

Satdobato’s Sardorbek Matmuratov levelled the score three minutes after the restart, tapping a rebound after Army goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu failed to take hold of a shot from Niraj Chaudhary.

Army retook the lead in the 52nd minute after a blunder from Satdobato goalie Abishek Baral, who failed to judge a lofted shot from Deepak Gurung as the ball bounced in front of him and went over him into the net.

But William Opoku Asiedu scored a 30-yard freekick to put Satdobato level again in the 85th minute.

NRT edge Himalayan Sherpa to pull off first win

New Road Team (NRT) fought back to register a 2-1 victory over Himalayan Sherpa Club (HSC) to grab their first win of the league campaign in the seventh game at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato.

Substitute Jenish Prajapati scored the last-gasp winner as NRT climbed to 12th in the 14-team contest with six points. Earlier, Khamir Gilsan Kandangwa had put HSC ahead in the 14th minute before Rohan Khadgi equalised in the 66th. Prajapati, who replaced Khadgi in the 81st, netted the all-important goal.

HSC also have equal six points with one win and three draws after seven games.