Army, Three Star share points

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

Picture: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, April 25: Nepal Army Club came from behind to rescue a point from Nabil Three Star Club on Sunday as they played a 1-1 draw in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel A Division League Football Tournament at the Dasharath Stadium.

In another match, Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) played a goalless draw against Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club.

The outcome of the match between second placed Three Star and third placed Army with 32 points each (on the basis of goal difference) added joy to leaders Nepal Police Club and fourth placed New Road Team (NRT).

With a match advantage, Police´s dream of defending their title got stronger as they could extend their six-point lead to nine and NRT could climb to second position if they win their upcoming matches.

RCT remained unchanged in seventh spot with 21 points and Jawalakhel climbed one spot to eighth with 21 points as well after playing the 17th league match.

In the entertaining match with fast movements, Army defender Ram Kumar Bishwas chipped in an equalizer in the first minute of the second half to cancel Surendra Tamang´s sixth minute lead for Three Star. Bishwas chipped over advancing goalie Kiran Chemjong in a pass of Shiva Chaudhary beating an offside trap.

Earlier, Tamang had headed home the opener through a close range header in a brilliant cross of Santosh Sahukhala.

Both the teams came up with attractive show from the beginning with frequent attractive moves and attacks on target. Sahukhala of Three Star failed to convert one-on-on chances with goalie Bikash Malla on four occasions.

Anjan KC´s freekick for Three Star from the left flank went inches over the cross bar. Likewise, an 80th minute goal from scorer Tamang was ruled as offside by referee Surendra Shikhrakar.

For Army, Chaudhary´s close range seventh minute header went inches wide and Raju Tamang squandered a 37th minute scoring chance when he hit wide from the box in a free position. Striker Hari Mahato´s feeble strike was handled by Three Star goalie Kiran Chemjong in a rebounder of Amrit Basnet´s shot off Chemjong´s hand.

Army coach Raju Kaji Shakya lauded custodian Bikash Malla´s performance and lamented for failing to convert goal scoring opportunities.

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said that to play a draw with Army was regretful. He expressed dissatisfaction toward strikers´ performance.

In another match, despite piling up consistence pressure, RCT failed to materialize their dream of scoring against Jawalakhel who came up with two foreign players - Liberian and Ugandan - in their squad for the first time in the ongoing league.

RCT made frequent post attacks and attractive moves in the one-sided match against Jawalakhel who could make only one attack on target.

In the 64th minute, Buddha Lama missed a scoring opportunity when he shot wide a ball dropped by Jawalakhel custodian Bikram Gurung ahead of the goalline while attempting to handle Santosh Gurung´s cross.

Four minutes later, Yogesh Gurung´s shot from the box was defended by defender Laxmi Shrestha from the goalline while the fallen goalie was still to recover. Likewise, Deepak Rai´s brilliant 20-yard freekick in the 30th minute was dived and punched by Gurung.

Raj Kumar Ghising´s powerful strike for Jawalakhel was easily taken by goalie Dilip Chhetri in the 55th minute.