Himalayan Sherpa Club beat Machhindra Club 2-0 to climb on third position while Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) and Friends Club played an entertaining 3-3 draw in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division Football League at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato on Wednesday. 

Ashis Gurung and Karna Limbu struck either side of the break for Sherpa, who maintained its unbeaten streak at the end of the fourth round. The victory puts Sherpa level on 10 points with Tribhuvan Army Club but sits third on the basis of goal differences. Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) stands on top with maximum 12 point from four matches. Machhindra have two points from as many matches. The late kick off, Jawalakhel and Friends grabbed first points of the campaign with a high-scoring draw. In the 14-team league, JYC climbed to 12th and Friends 13th, just above NRT who also have one point.

Himalayan Sherpa exerted pressure in the first half but it was Machhindra who came up with the first real chance of scoring. Its Nigerian forward Alaba Ademola Aderibigbe failed to beat Sherpa custodian Kishor Giri in one-on-one situation in the 17th minute. Sherpas, however, opened the scoring four minutes later through defender Ashis Gurung who headed in Ivorian Goha Patrick Privat’s corner from the crowded area. 

Karna Limbu then wasted scoring opportunity twice in quick succession for Sherpa. His shot from right flank in the 22nd sailed inches above bar before applying a tame shot straight into the hands of Machhindra goalkeeper Dee Kari five minute later. 

Nine minutes into second half, Khamir Gilshan Kandangwa thought he brought Machhindra back into the game only to see his effort ruled off side. Sherpa came closer to scoring again in the 79th only for a clever Privat header go wide of the target. It was the diminutive forward Limbu who sealed the victory with second goal for Sherpa. Unmarked Limbu flicked headed Rabi Thapa Magar’s pass from the right flank to take to his tally to three goals and become joint highest scorer of the league. Anjan Bista and Olawale Afeez of MMC, Ranjit Dhimal of Three Star Club, Santosh Tamang and Tek Bahadur Budathoki of Army have all scored three goals. 

Sherpa coach Subash Limbu saw gradual improvement in his team’s performance. “Our performance is improving day by day and I am pleased to see the strikers making their mark,” said Gurung, whose team plays Army next. Assistant coach of Machhindra Nishan Shrestha rued on the lack of coordination between local players and foreign recruits. “We need to improve on scoring since we have not scored a single goal so far,” said Shrestha. 

In the day’s second game, Friends took the 26th minute lead through Bikash Lama before conceding an equaliser in the first half stoppage time through Aruj Singh. JYC put up spirited show after the break and scored twice within seven minutes. Its Guinean recruit Fode Fofana struck in the 47th and Suman Dangol  made it 3-1 in the 52nd minute. Fofana Brahiman cut the deficit for Friends in the 68th minute before substitute Dhiraj Shrestha scored the equaliser eight minutes from time. 

The league resumes on Friday after a day’s break. On Friday, NRT will take on Police and Three Star plays APF.