Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri scored a solitary goal as Satdobato Youth Club ended the unbeaten run of leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) 1-0 to climb on top of the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League at the Dasharath Stadium on Wednesday.

Thakuri’s winning goal came in the 40th minute after he outpaced MMC defenders to collect a defense splitting through pass from Niraj Chaudhary and beat custodian Deep Karki with a low ball exactly from the arch of the area. It was the sixth goal of the league campaign for in-form Thakuri.

The victory of the newcomers not only replaced the record eight-time champions MMC from the summit, but also inflicted first defeat of the season in the eighth match. After their fifth win, Satdobato leapfrogged three spots up with 16 points from eight matches and opened a one point lead over MMC who dropped to second. MMC have won four and drawn three games.

Moments before Thakuri’s goal, Karki had punched William Asiedu’s scorcher to safety. In the second half, glovesman Karki again denied his 25-yard powerful strike.

Elated with the victory over domestic football giants, Satdobato coach Sanoj Shrestha said that they were successful in executing their plans. “We were able to mark opponent players man-to-man and did not let their midfield play,” said Shrestha. “It was an important three points and will ease the pressure on us in the upcoming matches.”

MMC coach Kiran Shrestha pointed out that opponents played destructive football. “Our squad is studded with youth players and we played two matches inside three days and many players were exhausted,” he said whose side played against Three Star on Monday.

In the early kickoff at the same venue, Junior Onguene Nkengue and Manish Dangi hit the targets for Sankata Club as they edged New Road Team (NRT) 2-1 to climb seventh in the standings.

Cameroonian Nkengue broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute in a corner taken by Nishan Khadka after he finished off a bouncing header by Andre Thierry Biyik Biyik just ahead of the goalline. Nepali international Dangi doubled the advantage in the 37th after he collected a ball squared by Nelson Konfor and beat goalie Pujan Hona with his strike.

NRT’s Cameroonian forward Nicholes Serge Song cut the deficit in the 62nd after teammate Suraj Jeu Thakuri’s strike rebounded off the upright.

The outcome meant, Sankata came level with Tribhuvan Army and Machhindra on 12 points after third win while NRT, with just one win, are struggling in the 11th position on six points.

Himalayan Sherpa pull off second victory

Himalayan Sherpa Club (HSC) edged APF Football Club 5-3 in a high scoring match at the Chyasal Stadium to pull their second victory.

The outcome lifted HSC one spot up to 10th in the standings on nine points while APF dropped one spot to eighth with 11 points in their kitty.

Satyam Sharma struck twice for HSC in the first half after Sudip Shrestha gave early lead to HSC. Abayomi Fakunle and Biswas Shrestha added one each after the break while Armand Beadoum, Sanish Shrestha and Pradip Lama were on target for the departmental side.

Sudip put APF ahead in the eighth minute and Sharma doubled the advantage in the 24th. He netted his second individual goal in the 29th to go 3-0 up.

Chad player Armand Beadoum reduced the deficit in the first half stoppage time and Sanish made it 2-3 for the departmental side two minutes into the second half. Forward Pradip Lama restored parity in the 63rd minute.

Nigerian Fakune netted fourth for HSC in the 76th and captain Biswas made sure they walked away with three points scoring one minute from time.