Leaders Dhangadhi and defending champions Kathmandu Rayzrs shared a point each after playing a 1-1 draw in an end-to-end Nepal Super League encounter at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Monday.

Ahmed Hijaji put Dhangadhi in front in the first half but Kingue Oliver equalised after the break in a clash of several chances and less goals.

Both Dhangadhi and Kathmandu—last edition’s runners-up and winners, respectively—were looking to assert their dominance in the top half of the table and were fierce on the field but still lacked the clinical edge.

Dhangadhi were sharp from the start and should have nicked a goal early doors when Aashish Chaudhary connected with Hijaji to put it on a plate for Olawale Afeez inside the penalty box in the fifth minute but the Nigerian wasted the opportunity with a poor execution as Kathmandu goalkeeper Anjan Shrestha stretched to save the shot.

Dhangadhi pushed on looking for speedy luck and it arrived in the 14th minute thanks to a shoddy defence from Kathmandu. Hijaji took advantage of a poor clearance from defender Andres Nia to dink over goalkeeper Shrestha with a chip-shot.

Kathmandu immediately sprung to life after conceding and threatened the Dhangadhi box twice in the next five minutes.

Bal Gopal Maharjan’s men almost got the equaliser in the 16th minute when Dhangadhi captain Devendra Tamang’s miscued effort to clear a cross forced his team’s goalkeeper Tikendra Thapa to backtrack before ricocheting off his own post and fell in front of Prashant Awasthi. All Awasthi had to do was to put it into the net but the Kathmandu midfielder missed the sitter.

Hishub Thapaliya then found an opportunity to square the game in the 20th minute when Nkgngue Juniour put him through but Thapaliaya’s low shot could not beat goalkeeper Thapa.

Hijaji should have furthered Dhangadhi’s lead in the added time of the first half when Afeez benefited from the sloppy defending from Kathmandu to set up Lebanese just in front of the six-yard box but Hijaji was not clinical enough.

Dhangadhi knocked Kathmandu doors looking for a breathing space minutes after the restart when Afeez showed his control and pace to buyout a line-breaking pass played far-up the field by Rohan Karki, sprinted into the box but could not outsmart the guarding Kathmandu defenders.

At the other end, Kathmandu’s Shokhrukh Makhmudkhozhiev outplayed Dhangadhi defenders before testing goalkeeper Thapa with a powerful shot two minutes later.

Kathmandu finally got the equaliser in the 66th minute through Oliver who flew high to head home a free kick from Tojidinov Komijon.

Komijon also had a golden chance to complete the comeback in double-quick time when Makhmudkhozhiev laid the ball off to him at the edge of the area but the Uzbeki midfielder could not capitalise on it.

Hijaji had another opportunity to grab the winner and shut the shop in the 80th minute after Ram Chandra Wajee put him through but Hijaji wasted it.

The outcome means Dhangadhi still top the nine-team standings with 12 points from six matches. Kathmandu are fourth with nine points, two behind second-placed Pokhara Thunders and one point adrift of third-placed Lalitpur City.

The race for the play-off spot is still on, omitting Sporting Ilam, who are already out of top four contention. They have five points after playing seven games and four adrift of fourth placed Kathmandu.