Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) beat Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club 2-1 to reclaim two-point cushion atop the standings of the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Tuesday.
Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) beat Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club 2-1 to reclaim two-point cushion atop the standings of the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Tuesday.
Two first-half goals gave the seven-time champion MMC a laboured victory over the departmental team. Nigerian national Adeleja Somide put MMC ahead in the 19th before Nabin Lama equalised for APF in the 28th minute. Winger Anjan Bista restored the lead for MMC in the 45th minute, scoring from the penalty spot.
In the early match of the day, Saraswati Youth Club recorded its second win defeating Brigade Boys Club (BBC) 2-1. Early goals from Binod KC and Francis Okechukwu Onyeama proved decisive for Saraswati. Abdu Kareem Hamod Nsiah pulled one back for BBC. The results meant MMC climb on top of the points table with maximum 12 points from four matches, two points ahead of second placed Tribhuvan Army Club. APF dropped to ninth with four points while Saraswati climbed to seventh on six points. BBC remained in 10th with three points.
MMC, who was coming off with a morale-boosting 2-1 win over its archrival Three Star, was made to sweat for victory. APF failed to make the most of its dominant ball possession count as it lacked cutting edge up front. “I am not satisfied with the performance and we failed to maintain our rhythm,” MMC coach Suman Shrestha said. “The boys lack application and was instead forced to play defensive.”
MMC’s Nigerian winger Adelaja opened scoring in the 19th with a powerful low drive from the edge after trading passes with Bimal Rana. APF wasted a golden opportunity in the 25th minute as Yubaraj Khadka’s tap-in flew whiskers away from the bar in a situation where he had only goalkeeper to beat.
APF levelled the scores in the 28th minute through penalty, awarded after its Indian defender Muhammed Asif handled ball. Lama stepped in to convert from the spot. Bista restored one-goal cushion for MMC, also converting from the spot in the 45th minute for his third goal of the campaign. MMC were awarded the spot kick after Santosh Kumar Katwal handled the ball inside the area. Bista now heads the list of top scorers with teammate Olawale Afeez, Three Star Club’s Ranjit Dhimal and Army duo Santosh Tamang and Tek Bahadur Budathoki.
APF continued to press for an equaliser and almost got one in the 49th minute. Defender Rajan Gurung headed above bar in a Shyam Nepali corner. MMC also came close to adding third only for Dona Thapa’s shot to deny by goalie Amrit Kumar Chaud-hary. APF coach Rajendra Tamang praised his team from exerting pressure on MMC but was disappointed that his players could not make it count.
In the first match, Saraswati took a third minute lead through Binod KC, who converted Dipesh Shrestha cross from the area. BBC equalised four minutes later from its foreign recruit Abdu Kareem, who was left unmarked inside the area. Saraswati scored the winning goal in the 52nd through Nigerian forward Francis, who headed home a Victor Amobi cross. Saraswati coach Pradip Nepal lauded his side’s effort. His BBC counterpart Urjan Shrestha blamed the defeat to lack of coordination and over confidence of his players.
Prajwal Oli was a sports coordinator for The Kathmandu Post, focusing on football, cricket and the National Sports Council. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2017, he spent more than eight years at Republica, specialising in football and sports politics, and at The Rising Nepal.
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