MYA held RCT to a 1-1 draw at the Dasharath Stadium on Friday while CMG Club Sankata played 1-1 draw against New Road Team (NRT) in the day´s early kick-off.[break]
Veteran striker Nirajan Rayamajhi cut down the RCT´s lead in the 60th minute of the match and pulled off a fourth draw result for MYA in the ongoing league. Jiven Sinkeman provided a pass from line to Rayamajhi, who blasted it into the net from close range without giving any chance to RCT defenders.
RCT vs Madhyapur Club. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
Earlier, Oladepo Olawale Afeez had provided 1-0 lead to RCT in the 42nd minute of the match. MYA had blocked two shots in a goalmouth-melee but the Bhaktapur team ultimately became helpless to stop Afeez.
MYA started well and made several moves in the danger zone of RCT within the first 25 minutes but could not continue it further. RCT goalkeeper Dilip Chhetri had to punch a curling shot off Saroj Dahal in the 24th minute.
In the 31st minute, MYA goalie Bikesh Kuthu unnecessarily moved forward and Afeez chipped the ball over him. However, Saroj Dahal cleared it to avoid danger. Bibek Pratap Rana cleared a ball from goal line as keeper fumbled the ball while saving RCT´s Bhim Darlami´s shot in the 41st minute.
"We were approaching the match for full three points but boys´ could not perform as per strategy in the first half. However, gaining a point against RCT was a satisfactory result for us," said MYA coach Upendra Man Singh. "We still have relegation threat, we need more points to survive in the top flight league," added Singh, also the president of the newly promoted A division club.
"It was unexpected result for us. It dented our hope to atop the league table," said RCT coach Madhu Karki. "Though we were not putting up good show, we were pulling results in our favor. We missed this time," he added. Karki lamented that his boys´ failed to handle match pressure and the crowd pressure.
RCT has the second place on the league table with 14 points from six matches. Machhindra is on the top with 16 points from six matches. MYA has the 10th position with seven points from six matches (four draw results, a win and a loss).
NRT shares points with Sankata
On Friday´s early kick off at the Dasharath Stadium, Subash Gurung scored in the 47th minute to avoid NRT´s third consecutive loss. Sequn A Eyitayo provided a short pass from the edge and Gurung shot it at the far post.
Earlier, Salyan Khadgi´s shot from the edge of the danger area hit the inner cross bar and into the net in the 14th minute. However, Sankata could not produce other exciting moves in the rest of the match.
RCT vs Madhyapur Club. (Photo: Bikash Karki)
NRT had a chance to seal the match in the 61st minute but Ibrahim Olusola made a goal line clearance to Bijay Kumal´s header from the six-yard area.
With the draw, Sankata moved to fifth position on the points table with nine points from six matches while NRT has the eighth position with eight points from six matches.
NRT coach Diken Suwal said that Sankata performed better than his side. "We have problems in the midfield," said Suwal. "Sometimes, I feel my boys lack football sense," he lamented.
Sankata coach Maheshwar Mulmi said that his side lacks a good striker. He claimed that he had used defender Salyan Khadgi as forward in the absence of good striker and Khadgi was one of the very few experienced players in the team.
Saturday´s match
MMC Vs Himalayan Sherpa @12:30
Jawalakhel Vs Three Star @ 14:30
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