NRT crash out from group stage

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, May 14: New Road Team (NRT) of Nepal crashed out from group round of the AFC President´s Cup on Friday as they were handed second consecutive 3-0 defeat by Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan at the Bangabandu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Giving an early lead to the five-time finalists in the seventh minute, Volsov Yury added two more in the later stage of the second half to complete his hat-trick in the regional tournament.

Earlier, in the first match, NRT had lost to Abahani Limited of the hosts 2-0 on Wednesday.

Piling up consistent pressure from the beginning, Yury made a brilliant display to open the scoring unleashing a powerful strike from the box after sprinting with the ball from the center and beating four Nepali defenders inside the box.

Yury added another in the 75th minute through a header in a cross of Aboh Faruh and completed his hat-trick five minutes from time yet again through a header utilizing a corner of Aysikoh Alexander.

Sayan Mosavi of NRT squandered a chance of scoring in the sixth minute as he shot wide from close range in a pass of Nirajan Rayamajhi. After going down by 1-0 NRT displayed a well coordinated show but failed to score in the first-half. Umesh Uprety´s free-kick in the 25th minute from the edge skied above the bar and Sagar Thapa´s 20-yard strike six minutes later was punched by Dordoi´s goalie Samsaliev Talant.

NRT goalie Surendra Shrestha prevented about a dozen post attacks in the first half.

Physically taller and stronger Kyrgyz players often passed out in the ground due to the hot climate of Dhaka and adopted defensive strategy in the second half against NRT who played low balls. Mosavi´s strike from the edge in the 57th minute was prevented by goalie Talant.

NRT coach Yogamber Suwal said that they were unable to resist pressure from the physically stronger players. He expressed satisfaction toward his side´s performance.

Dordoi coach Dvoryankov Sergie said that they registered an easy win as they succeeded in utilizing chances. He, however, rated NRT as better than Abahani Limited.

NRT will play against Hasus NTCPE of Chinese Taipei in their last match on Sunday.