Following the goalless stalemate, MMC is in the second position with 25 points from 12 matches, a point behind league leader Three Star. Army has 19 points from 12 matches.[break]
Both the teams missed a couple of chances in either half.
MMC goalkeeper Aqbolade Emmanuel Dare made a dive to save Tanka Basnet´s powerful left-flank shot early in the first half. Dare, again, punched Deep Lama´s header to safety in the 40th minute.
In the 58th minute, Bharat Khawas had a real chance to put Army ahead. Lama fed a pass to Khawas but his shot from the area after beating two defenders hit the woodwork. MMC goalkeeper blocked another close-range shot from Khawas in a pass off Santosh Nepali.
In the first half, Shiva Shrestha of MMC wasted a chance as he volleyed wide from the danger area in a cross off Nabin Neupane. Army goalkeeper Ganga Ram Deuja made a diving save to deny a powerful 25-yard shot from Shrestha in the 54th minute.
Bharat Khawas surrounded by MMC players. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
Sulav Maskey provided a cross to captain Anil Gurung in the danger area in the 70th minute but the latter volleyed it above the bar. In a goalmouth melee, Maskey scared the opponent with a powerful shot from the edge of the area but it deflected off his captain Gurung´s body.
"We missed chances but were also lucky. Bharat (Khawas) had a real chance to upset us but we were saved," said MMC coach Krishna Thapa. He praised his defender Mbile Leonel Stephen. "I had assigned him to mark Bharat and he did it throughout the match," he added.
His counterpart Yogambar Suwal said both the teams played quality football. "We got good opportunities but failed to capitalize them," said Suwal.
NRT jumps to fifth place
New Road Team (NRT) defeated Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club 2-0 in the day´s early kick-off at the Dasharath Stadium.
Olaide Rahman Ibrahim and Asim Jung Karki scored a goal each in the first half to seal the victory for NRT. Ibrahim opened the scoring from the six-yard area in the 31st minute while Karki doubled the advantage nine minutes later. Subash Gurung B fed an acute cross to Karki in the six-yard area and the latter tapped it into the net.
NRT captain Laxman Ruchal would have extended the lead in the 49th minute, but Jawalakhel substitute goalkeeper Min Basnet made a stretched dive to block the close-range strike.
Putting up an improved performance in the second half, Jawalakhel created a couple of chances but wasted them. Subash Gurung B made a goal-line clearance with a header to deny Juma Benlee after the African had already beaten NRT goalkeeper Raju Yogi. A moment later, Yogi again denied Benlee in a one-on-one position.
With the win, NRT jumped to the fifth place from seventh with 19 points from 12 matches. Sixth-placed Nepal Police and seventh-placed Army also have 19 points from 12 matches. Jawalakhel is in the 10th position with 14 points from 12 matches.
"We accumulated important three points today and I´m happy for the crucial points," said NRT coach Diken Suwal. "We lost our rhythm in the second half," he added.
Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC said his team failed to put up a coordinated effort in the first half and conceded goals. "We improved our performance in the second half but could not produce goals," said KC.
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