Jagjeet stars as MMC outplay APF

source: The Himalayan Times

Rup Narayan Dhakal

POKHARA: Jagjeet Shrestha scored two and assisted another for Shiva Shrestha as Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) defeated Nepal APF Club 3-1 to enter the quarter-finals of the eighth Aaha Gold Cup here at the Pokhara Stadium today.

MMC scored all three goals through dead ball as Jagjeet converted two free kicks and Shiva struck another on Jagjeet’s free kick. Jibesh Pandey was the lone scorer for APF.

MMC took the lead in the 31st minute when Jagjeet converted the free kick after APF goalkeeper Chandan Sardar failed to judge the ball that kissed the net through his side. Jibesh scored the equaliser in the 50th minute following a pass from Nar Kumar Rai.

MMC restored the lead in the 78th minute when Shiva Shrestha scored on a Jagjeet’s free kick. APF were pressing hard for the equaliser but Jagjeet converted another free kick in the injury time to steer his team into the last eight.

It was APF who made the first attempt on the post. Things could have been different had Ganesh Lawati not wasted a chance in the 15th minute. Arbinda Chaudhary muffed up another chance for APF in the 37th minute when he failed to score on Lawati’s pass. The lone goal scorer Jibesh was denied by MMC goalkeeper in the 47th minute, while Tanka Basnet failed to convert on one-to-one situation with the MMC goalie.

On the other hand, MMC also wasted a couple of opportunities with Deepak Bhusal’s long shot going inches above the cross bar in the 16th minute. MMC’s Deepak Bhusal was named the man of the match.

Meanwhile, referee Sudish Pandey expelled MMC’s office secretary Kumar Bhattarai from the players’ box for using abusive language.

MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung credited the win to the teamwork of his players and the weakness of the APF goalkeeper. “Definitely we had a good teamwork today and the APF’s goalkeeping was also weak,” said Lopsang. APF coach Maheshwor Mulmi said his team played better than the opponents. “We performed better to that of our opponents, but we faced defeat because of the weak keeping,” said Mulmi.

On Friday, New Road Team will take on Knight Chess Club of Jhapa.