Sports
Bista hits brace in APF victory
Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club routed Morang Football Club 4-1 in Red Bull National League Football here on Monday.Ranjan Bista struck twice while Anjan Bista and Nabin Lama added one each as the departmental team registered their first win in two games. Raj Poudel replied for Morang. APF, who had drawn their first match against Tribhuvan Army Club 1-1, climbed to third in the standing with four points, edging Tribhuvan Army Club only on goal difference. With two successive defeats, Morang lie bottom of the table with Far-western Football Club.
Poudel provided Morang a shock 36th minute lead heading home a cross from Komal Khawas but their APF turned the game around capitalising on defensive errors to pull back four goals. APF coach Krishna Thapa was all praise of his boys. “We put on a good show. After being held to a draw in the first match we were criticised for our inability to score. We worked on that weakness during the break and it worked wonders today,” said Thapa.
Anjan brought APF back in the match with the 41st minute equaliser. Anjan beat the offside trap after Nabin Lama put him through and the APF forward beat the helpless Morang goalkeeper Kishore Giri to score his first goal of the league. His brother Ranjan added another a minute later pouncing on the opportunity provided by a misunderstanding between Morang defenders and goalie Giri.
APF went for more goals and were duly rewarded when Ranjan scored his second in the 59th minute thanks to a long pass from Ramesh Dangal. Nabin Lama hammered home the fourth, connecting a pass from Ganesh Lawati in the 71st minute.
Morang coach Paras Chaudhary rued on the fact that his players were unable to hold on to their lead. Chaudhary said that the referee should have ruled the APF’s equaliser as offside. “The first goal they scored should have been ruled as offside. They scored after our players did not attempt to block Anjan,” said Chaudhary terming it as the turning point of the game.
APF had a chance to score as early as the fourth minute but Anjan was denied by Manish Ghale’s goalline clearance. As for Morang, Nishan Limbu’ was denied by APF keeper Binay Shrestha in the ninth minute.




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