In another match, Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club put a brake on its five match losing streak with a 3-1 win over Simrik Saraswati Club that got restricted to 10-man in the 67th minute.[break]
Three Star with 19 points and Machhindra with 17 points remained intact in the second and third positions respectively. Three Star could have replaced leader RCT with 20 points from summit had it defeated Machhindra. Following its only victory since the first match of league, Sherpa climbed out of the relegation zone with seven points, moving two spots up to 12th position. Saraswati remained unchanged in the 11th place with eight points.
In the day´s late match, Machhindra could have taken 18th minute lead but skipper Deepak Gurung´s brilliant shot from the arch rebounded off bar.
Three Star playing without its regular skipper and forward Santosh Sahukhala opened the scoring through its Sierra Leonean forward Feni Joshua in the 21st minute with a low ball shot from close range in a brilliant pass from Abio Dun Ibrahim set by Yogesh Gurung.
Machhindra looked lacklustre during the remaining time of the first half but bounced back two minutes into the second half. Skipper Rai leveled the score with a spectacular display of lone effort. Rai ran the ball long way and beat past three Nepali international including defenders Biraj Maharjan and Sandip Rai. Rai made a tight angle shot from the area to beat his last obstacle custodian Kiran Chemjong to achieve his target.
Machhindra received a major shock in the 66th minute after its African defender Edris Olainka was sent off for second bookable offence against Ibrahim. However, Machhindra put up a courageous display during the remaining time. Both the teams created a couple of chances but failed to utilize them to earn full three points. Three Star´s Bijay Gurung and Machhindra´s Laxmi Nath Shrestha wasted a chance each.
Three Star´s coach Pradip Humagain owed the draw to error of his defenders and hard effort of Machhindra players. He also criticized referee Bikash Mahat. "There must be an experienced referee to conduct league. He gave wrong decision for both the teams."
Machhindra boss Raju Shakya, however, did not complain about the referee. He lauded his team´s effort. "We defied Three Star´s tactics," Shakya said.
In the kick off match, Sherpa scored all three goals in the second half to cancel Saraswati´s lead taken during the half an hour mark through Tamesh Dangal.
Sherpa coach Meghraj KC described the victory that his side achieved after sixth match as the first aid.
Pukar Gahatraj leveled the scoring in the 61st minute. Four minutes later Saraswati defender Michael Ntisefe was sent off after being flashed second yellow card by referee Sachin Amatya.
Heman Gurung, who was marking his debut in the A division league, netted second goal for Sherpa in the 65th minute. Gurung cleverly shot at an unattended post from as much as 40-yard while goalie was yet to take his position after clearing ball from the far corner of the area. Dhiroj Tamang, the 41st minute replacement of Hope Rally sealed victory in the 71st minute.
Saraswati coach Dhruba KC did not attend the post match conference.
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