Ghising rescues Jawalakhel; Three Star hammer Boys Union

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, March 30: A late freekick goal from skipper Raj Kumar Ghising earned Jawalakhel Youth Club a 1-1 draw against Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) on Tuesday while Nabil Three Star Club hammered Boys Union Club 4-0, in the domestic A division league football being held at the Dasharath Stadium.

Ghising scored against his former club MMC in the 83rd minute through a superb 20-yard freekick, sending the ball past inattentive MMC goalie Bishal Shrestha which entered the hitting his hand while he attempted a save.

Earlier, Korean striker for MMC Oh Suchg Hwan gave them a 15th minute lead. Hwan made a brilliant display to open the scoring, dribbling around a crowd of Jawalakhel players and striking from the box to stun the Jawalakhel defenders and goalie.

With the draw, MMC progressed one step in the points table to fourth place with 18 points after the completion of the first leg while Jawalakhel retained their ninth position with 11 points.

Earlier, MMC squandered a chance to double their advantage through a penalty. Skipper Tashi Tsering failed to convert in the 61st minute as his powerful spot kick skied after hitting the bar. MMC were awarded a penalty after Sunil Raut played a foul on Hwan in the danger zone.

In the drab first half both teams failed to make impressive attacks but they came up in attacking style in the second half. Hwan twice failed to find the target. For Jawalakhel, Ghising missed a one-on-one with custodian Shrestha in the 65th minute as he saved the ball.

Similarly, Jawalakhel were unlucky in the 50th minute as Raj Poudyal´s header in a corner from Yogesh Shrestha rebounded hitting the inner edge of the bar, and in the rebounder goalie Shrestha prevented Laxmi Shrestha´s header.

MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang said that to miss the penalty was unfortunate for his team and the turning point of the match. “Had we succeeded in converting the penalty the result could have been otherwise,” Lopsang said, adding that the team has already given up the challenge for the title.

Jawalakhel assistant coach Rajaram Karki said that the performance of his side was improving every other day and also vowed to come up with a better show in the second leg as his players had recovered from most of their injuries.

In another match, leading scorer Santosh Sahukhala scored twice in Three Star´s victory over Boys Union to register 11 goals to his name. Shayan Mosavi of New Road Team is behind Sahukhala with seven goals to his name. Earlier, an own goal from Bishnu Sunuwar gave Three Star a lead and Bijay Gurung added another.

In a bid to clear the ball, Sunuwar pushed the ball toward his own post in the 22nd minute while goalie Dasharath Adhikari was beaten following an error in judgment. The ball bounced and went over his head when he moved ahead to collect it.

Sahukhala scored another in the 29th minute through a feeble header from near the goal line utilizing Bijay Gurung´s corner after goalie Adhikari dropped the ball from his hand.

Gurung directed toward the post from close range in a pass of Sahukhala to score the third goal in the 56th minute. Likewise, Sahukhala sealed the match one minute before time through an attractive header from the box in a corner by Anil Ojha.

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan lauded his side´s performance saying that they came up with a better performance in the second half. He lamented losing points in the beginning stages of the league.

Boys Union coach Kumar Katuwal said that his side put up a good show. He said that they conceded the first goal due to the goalie´s mistake.