RCT's wait for win ends; Sankata beat BUC

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, March 19: Ranipokhari Corner Team´s (RCT) wait for a win ended on Friday as they registered a convincing 3-1 victory over Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club following disappointing results in their last five matches in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League Football Tournament.

Likewise, Sankata Kathmandu Mall Club, who face relegation threat, registered their second victory in the league defeating Boys Union Club (BUC) 3-2. Sankata were defeated in their previous six matches.

Despite Friday´s victory Sankata, who moved one step ahead from the bottom of the table with six points, were unable to pull out of the relegation zone. Boys Union with five points dropped one spot to hit the bottom of the table.

RCT moved to eighth from the 10th spot while Jawalakhel dropped one spot to 10th position.

Santosh Shrestha scored twice during the first half in Sankata´s victory while Ram Krishna GC added another in the other half. Tanka Basnet and Sanjiv Tamang scored one each for Boys Union.

In the competitive match, Boys Union had taken an early lead in the sixth minute through Basnet. Basnet valiantly seized the ball from Arjun Subba of Sankata and sent it into the net to open their account.

However, striker Shrestha canceled the lead seven minutes later utilizing a ball that Boys Union goalie Binaya Shrestha failed to handle properly when Sudeep Shikhrakar hit it toward the net. He doubled the advantage in the 26th minute after Boys Union defenders failed to clear the ball from the box.

Sankata scored the last goal through GC in the 73rd minute following three consecutive shots at the post. GC utilized a rebounder off their striker Nirajan Malla that was blocked by Boys Union goalie Shrestha. GC´s first attempt was blocked by defender Sagar Ghimire from the goal-line, but he succeeded in directing the ball past the net in the second attempt.

Boys Union scored the second goal two minutes before the end through Tamang but their dream of leveling the match could not materialize as they fell short of a goal. Tamang directed the ball toward the post from close range in a cross supplied by Sudip Limbu.

Boys Union missed two scoring opportunities. In the 77th minute, Tamang´s header in a cross of Sudip Limbu rebounded hitting the pole. During the beginning of the match, too, Tamang´s shot from a free position went wide.

Despite the win, Sankata coach Chet Narayan Shrestha said his side failed to perform up to their full potential. He said he was under pressure to move from the relegation zone.

Boys Union coach Kumar Katawal said they conceded two goals due to errors of defenders and goalie.

Earlier in the first match, Buddha Lama, Prabesh Katawal and Dipak Rai scored one each in the second half in RCT´s victory over Jawalakhel. Sunil Raut pulled one back for Jawalakhel.

Lama scored through a looping header in the 58th minute in a corner of Katawal. Likewise, Katawal netted another from the arch of the box in a pass supplied by Dipesh Thapa Magar to pile up more pressure on Jawalakhel . Rai scored the last goal for the team in the 78th minute through a freekick from outside the box.

Raut scored the consolation goal for Jawalakhel in the 86th minute through a diving header in a corner of Yogesh Shrestha.

Earlier, both the teams could not create a single attractive move in the first half.

RCT coach Madhu Karki who was under pressure after a bad run in the league said that his side was under pressure to win the match and the win was vital for the team. “The boys could not put up a good show in the first half due to the lack of supplies from midfielders,” Karki said.

Jawalakhel assistant coach Raja Ram Karki said his side failed to repeat the first half´s performance in the second half.