In the kick off match, relegation threatened Armed Police Force (APF) defeated CMG Club Sankata 2-0 to climb out of the relegation zone. [break]
Tanzanian forward Yona Elias Ndabila scored the all important goal to provide major upset in the dream run of Machhindra that remained calm in the third place with 23 points, three points behind leader Three Star and one point sort of second placed MMC. Coincidentally Saraswati had defeated leader Three Star Club 2-1 in its inaugural match of the league, moved one spot up to 11th with 14 points after the completion of 11th round.
With its first victory after the fifth match, APF with 12 points climbed one spot up to the 13th position leaving the relegation battle evenly poised. Madhyapur dropped one spot below to 14th place, the relegation zone. Sankata remained unchanged in the eighth place with 16 points.
Ndabila opened the socre with a fierce shot from the right side of area in his lone effort beating past two defenders and then slotting home the winner in the 27th minute.
Machhindra Club vs Saraswati Club (Photo: Bikash Karki)
"The defeat is a great setback to our aim of finishing on top of the table at the end of first round," Machhindra coach Raju Shakya said whose side was handed second defeat in the league. "However, we still have chance but it equally depends on the outcome of other teams."
Shakya who had rested his regular forward Bishal Rai A from the starting line up due to back pain was forced to field him in the second half. But Rai A could not rescue his side´s fate. "Skipper Deepak Rai and Rai A´s injury also caused trouble for us," Shakya said.
Bobby Ogolla Ogando rescued Machhindra from conceding second goal in the 35th minute with a miraculous clearance to prevent Krishna Gopal Shrestha cross from crossing the goalline. Machhindra custodian Dinesh Thapa Magar was beaten after deflection at defender Amar Subba.
Saraswati piled up consistence pressure in the first half and denied Machhindra from creating any dangerous move. The very first attack on goal for Machhidnra came in the injury time of first half through a freekick taken by skipper Rai. But goalie Ashok Baral made a heroic dive to punch the ball to safety from below the crossbar.
Karna Limbu wasted scoring chance for Machhindra in the 67th minute as he chipped wide in one-versus-one situation with custodian Baral in Edris Olyinka pass.
Saraswati coach Dhruba KC said that his team was 75 percent safe from the relegation threat after victory. "We had targeted at least a win or a draw and we achieved it," said Sarswati coach Dhruba KC adding, his side´s strategy of stopping opponent forward worked well.
In the kick off match, Arjun Subba and Shyam Nepali scored in either half for the departmental team that played with a man down for last 12 minutes in its 2-0 win over Sankata. APF´s coach Janak Singh described the result as a relief for his side.
"The match was a turning point for us. Had we lost or shared points the relegation threat could have deepened. Now we have matches with same level of teams -- Saraswati, NRT, Friends and Bauddha," said Tharu who lauded the comeback of his forward Ganesh Lawati and thanked him for his impressive performance.
Arjun Subba put APF ahead in the 33rd minute with a one-touch strike from the area in Nabin Lama cross. Shyam Nepali ensured the victory for APF two minutes into second half after he got an opportunity of free strike from the area in Subba cross. Subba and Rajendra Rawal squanded one scoring chance each in the second half.
APF´s forward Ranjan Bista who came as replacement of Nabin Lama in the 71st was sent off seven minutes later for second bookable offence. He was show the first yellow card in the 72nd minute.
Sankata also created a couple of chances in the first half but failed to utilize them. Sankata coach Maheshwar Mulmi opined that his side failed to utilize scoring chances while opponents were successful in grabbing them.
Sunday´s matches
RCT Vs Three Star @ 12:30 NST
Police Vs Himalayan Sherpa @ 14:30 NST
Related story
Japanese aid for rebuilding Sarswati Peace School in Gorkha
-1773673205.webp)
