Shrestha’s hat-trick lifts Jawalakhel from bottom

Source: ekantipur.com

KATHMANDU, Mar 10 - Yogesh Shrestha scored the first hat-trick of the season as Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club moved three places up from the bottom following their 3-0 rout over Armed Police Force (APF) in the Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League on Tuesday.

Shrestha, who moved up front from his preferred position of left wing owing to the absence of Raj Kumar Ghising, opened his scoring on 31st minute directing a pass from Bijay Dhimal. His second came ten minutes after the restart when he lobbed his shot past advancing keeper Sabin Regmi from Raj Kumar K.C.’s pass. He completed his hat- trick 17 minute later heading in from just outside the goalmouth after the keeper had fumbled Raj Paudyal’s shot.

Jawalakhel, needing a win to get off the relegation zone, played the closing 12 minutes with a numerical advantage following marching orders for Prakash Karki for two yellow cards. APF, stuck on four points, dropped one place to tenth just above Sankata. They are on level points with Jawalakhel but trail on goal difference.

Machhindra jumped two places up to fifth with an easy 2-1 win over Rani Pokhari Team (RCT) in the early match of the day. The victors needed two first half goals from Karna Limbu and Naresh K.C. to collect eight points. RCT dropped a place down to seventh with five points.

Rupesh K.C. put Limbu clean through on goal breaking the offside trap with only the keeper to beat, and Limbu obliged on 23rd minute. Naresh K.C. added another five minutes later lobbing his shot from about 30 yards when he caught goalie Dilip Chettri off guard.

Substitute Sharesh Shrestha pulled one back for RCT scoring from the

corner line on 69th minute. Shrestha’s tight angle shot hit the cross bar before ending at the back of the net.

RCT coach Madhu Karki later said that his players looked worn from a the tight schedule, while Machhindra coach, who sustained minor injuries in the course of the match when the ball cleared by his player Naresh Pokhrel hit his face with full force, said his team won simply because the opponents could not play to their potential in today’s match.