Day of departmental teams

SOURCE: REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, June 4: Departmental team Nepal Police Club opened four-point lead at the top of the points table on Saturday as it registered an impressive 5-0 win over minnows Swayambhu Youth Club in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League at the Halwhowk ground.

In course of giving continuity to the unbeaten run of defending champion Police, Bharat Khawas scored twice while Bhola Silwal, Rabin Shrestha and Ramesh Katwal were also on target. 

At the Dasharath Stadium, Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club fought back to earn a 1-1 draw against Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) and give continuity to its unbeaten run while a long goal from skipper Kumara Thapa became sufficient for departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) to register third victory in a row as it defeated top flight debutant Saraswati Youth Club 1-0.

With the results, Police extended two points lead to four, with 22 points from eight matches while Sherpa remained constant in second position with 18 points. RCT jumped to third from fifth with 17 points and APF came to 10th position jumping two spots. Saraswati is just above the relegation zone (14th spot) with 4 points two spot ahead of Swayambhu which has garnered three points.

In the competitive match between Sherpa and RCT, both going through an impressive form, RCT took the lead in the 27th minute. Dipesh Thapamagar sent the ball past net when he met a ball taken by Shekhar Limbu who fell in the box while dribbling around opponent defenders.

But Jagjeet Shrestha once again emerged savior for the Sherpa team as he hit back the equalizer in the 71st minute when a freekick taken by him few inches away from the line of box entered the net before bouncing to stun RCT goalie Dilip Chhetri.

RCT could have doubled the tally in the 59th minute had Shekhar Limbu not hit the pole in the 58th minute from box with only goalie Rupak Shrestha an obstacle on his way. Similarly, Limbu again squandered scoring chance in the 78th minute when his 30-yard shot in an open net sailed above the bar while goalie Shrestha was far away from the post.

Not only RCT but Sherpa were also unlucky to score other goal as Deepak Rai´s close range shot went out hitting the pole during the dying moments. In the 56th minute Deepak Rai failed to connect Shrestha cross in an open net.

RCT coach Madhu Karki who rated the match as 50\\50 termed his side to be unlucky. “Strikers failed to score twice in an open net. However, I am satisfied with the draw.” Karki´s counterpart, Upendraman Singh lauded Shrestha´s freekick terming it "world class." “It is difficult to play with a quality team like RCT and the boys also failed to utilize scoring opportunities.”

APF despite piling up consistent pressure from the beginning failed to utilize many scoring opportunities against Saraswati. APF´s quest for a goal materialized in the 56th minute when skipper Kumar Thapa made a brilliant one touch strike from 25-yard to stun goalie Bikesh Kutu an open account in his scoring tally.

APF assistant coach Janak Singh Tharu said that his side missed more than half a dozen of scoring chances. He, however, said that his team´s confidence level was rising every other day. APF had made a dismal starting in the league and even failed to collect single point until the fifth match.

APF striker Ganesh Lawati who had completed two hat-tricks in last two matches squandered as many as four scoring chances while Arjun Subba´s was unable to find the back of the net two minutes from time despite beating goalie as Pakistan defender M Naveed Akram defended the ball rolling towards the net. In the whole match, Saraswati could create only one scoring chance but Krishna Gopal Shrestha failed to utilize it as he hit wide in an open net.

At the Halchowk ground, Bharat Khawas opened scoring in the 34th minute and doubled tally four minutes after the break. Similarly, Bhola Silwal netted in the 54th while Rabin Shrestha and Ramesh Katwal achieved the target in the 73rd and 79th minutes respectively.
 


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