Boys Union stun Machhindra; AFP thrash Army

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, June 8: Boys Union Club produced a stunning result on Tuesday to climb out of the relegation zone as they defeated G Five Machhindra Club 1-0 in their 20th league match in the Martyrs Memorial San Miguel ´A´ Division Football League at the Dasharath Stadium.

In another match, bottom placed Armed Police Force (APF) registered a 2-1 victory over another departmental team Nepal Army Club raising slim hope of avoiding relegation.

Following the results, Boys Union moved to 10th position with 19 points with two matches to go, pushing Sankata who have played equal 20 matches to 11th position. Machhindra remained unchanged in fifth position with 27 points.

Despite the victory, APF remained at the bottom of the table with 16 points. Army with 33 points also remained constant in the fourth place.

Raju Rai scored the lone goal through penalty two minutes before the interval for Boys Union to produce a result identical of the first leg. Boys Union were awarded with a spot-kick after Machhindra defender Ram Sharan Magar handled the ball inside the box in an attempt to clear Rai´s strike.

Resham Rana´s powerful shot had hit the pole and Rai had struck it on the rebound. The ball hit Magar´s hand to change the course of the match.

Earlier in the first leg, Shuvam Shrestha had scored the decider against Machhindra to register their first victory of the league. Boys Union have won four among their last six matches and played draws in two matches.

In the competitive match, Boys Union came up with improved performance and enjoyed more ball possession than that of the opponents but could not make many post attempts.

Machhindra, who played without their skipper Rohit Chand as he was booked with a second yellow card in their previous outing, could make only a few remarkable attacks in the entire match. Bishnu KC´s strike for Machhindra was well defended by Amar Limbu from goal line when the goalie was already beaten.

Delighted with the victory, Boys Union coach Kumar Katuwal said his side now has almost avoided the relegation.

Machhindra coach Meghraj KC said his side could not play very well.

In another match of honor between two departmental teams, APF took a 38th minute lead through Ganesh Lawati and got the second goal as a gift from Army defender Ram Kumar Biswas as he directed the ball toward his own post in the 58th minute. Santosh Nepali pulled one back for Army in the 72nd minute.

In the first leg too, APF had defeated Army 2-1 with a goal from Ganesh Lawati and another own goal from Army defender Chun Bahadur Thapa.

In course of scoring the opener, Lawati made a quick powerful attempt from about 25 yards to stun Army goalie Bikash Malla. APF doubled the advantage in the second half after Army defender Biswas hit the ball toward his own post in an effort to clear Top Bahadur Bista´s shot when the goalie was already beaten.

Nepali scored a consolation goal from the box for Army.

APF manager Prem Shrestha said his side´s defense line-up came up with attractive performance and they still have slim hope of avoiding relegation.

Army coach Raju Kaji Shakya expressed dissatisfaction at his side´s performance. “The players don´t have team spirit and now we most probably will have to be content with fourth position.”