In an entertaining match, Mukonza turned hero for the Jawakakhel as he netted the first goal in the 62nd minute to level the score 1-1 and scored the decisive in the 90th minute through penalty to break the 2-2 deadlock. [break]
Jawalakhel was awarded with the penalty after Alexis Likeng tackled Mukonza at the box. With the twin goals, Mukonza also hit his eighth goal to come in the list of highest scorer after Jumanu Rai (15) of Police, Bharat Khawas (13) of Police and Santosh Sahukhala (11) of Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC).
The last minute penalty again could not remain free from the controversy. RCT coach Madhu Karki expressed strong discontent towards the penalty awarded to the opponent by referee Sudish Pandey. “The boys played well but the referee made a blunder in awarding penalty which cost dearly for the team. It was a clean tackle on ball and you can see the replays in screen for 100 times,” Karki said.
With the result, which turned out to be eighth win from 11 matches, Jawalakhel progressed one spot in the standings to achieve second place with 26 points pushing behind MMC with 25 points to third. MMC which takes on Swayambhu Club has a match advantage over Jawalakhel and leaders Police Club which has 29 points.
RCT with six wins, two draws and three defeats remain constant in the sixth place with 20 points.
Jawalakhel dominated the match in the first half and made three dangerous attacks on post, but all in vain. But the second half turned competitive and it was RCT who opened the scoring. Resham Rana gave lead nine minutes after the interval beating an offside trap and then advancing goalie Dinesh Thapa.
RCT´s lead could not last for a more than eight minutes as Mukonza hit back the equalizer in the 62nd minute from six yard box in a long pass from Laxminath Shrestha.
Karna Subba, the 65th minute replacement of Prabin Karki netted second for Jawalakhel in the 72nd minute to give 2-1 lead. Subba gave a finishing touch from close range in a short cross of Bishal Rai (Jersey no 10). But to add more thrill Dipesh Thapamagar made a brilliant one touch strike from the box to level the scoring 2-2. Thapamagar had got the ball in goalie Dinesh Thapa´s rebounder off Resham Rana shot.
Mukonza´s brilliant header 84th minute header in a freekick of Thomas Wangira Biket was attractively denied by RCT golvesman Dilip Chhetri. Earlier, during the first half Bikram Limbu´s powerful 20-yard strike rebounded hitting the inner edge of the bar, which created confusion among the spectators whether it crossed the goalline or not. It returned in the six yard area after bouncing around the goalline which goalie Chhetri quickly caught and resumed the play. Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC claimed Limbu´s shot to be cent percent goal.
In the 43rd minute, Thapamaga of RCT cleared Laxminath Shrestha´s header from the goalline while during the early moments of the match, goalie Chhetri denied Bishal Tamang´s shot from the box.
“We had expected tough challenge from RCT as it is one of the quality team,” KC said.
NRT beat Himalayan Sherpa
New Road Team (NRT) beat 10-man Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa 2-0 at the Halchowk ground to hand the latter its second defeat of the league in a row.
Michael Muyawa and Aaron Blackie Cole scored the goals within three minutes to Sherpa hard hit by absence of its key players -- Jagjeet Shrestha, Castory D Mumbara and Oryek Allan. Sherpa got down to 10-man after goalie Rupak Shrestha was sent off by the referee in the 62nd minute when he took down Cole outside the box with none of other players to stop him. Second choice custodian Amrit Chaudhary took charge of the post after Shrestha´s departure.
Army thrashes Saraswoti
Tanka Basnet netted a hat-trick and Bishwobairag Samal netted twice as Nepal Army Club swept an impressive 5-1 win over the top flight debutant Saraswoti Youth Club in the kick off at Dasharath Stadium. Bikram Baniya became lucky enough to hit back the hit consolation from a long distance, farter than the center line.
The win lifted Army to super eight with 18 points pushing behind Bauddha FC with equal points to ninth place. Saraswoti remained unchanged in the 14th place with eight points.
Basnet put Army ahead in the 13th minute from the box beating offside trap and then goalie in Samal´s pass. Basnet netted his second goal one minute into the second half and completed his hat-trick in the 88th minutes. Samal netted in the 40th and 48th minute to give joy to newly appointed army coach Babukaji Dhaubanajar who got his third victory in a row from as many match after his appointment to the post.
Baniya´s shot from farther than center line entered the net after goalie Bikash Malla moving ahead to handle it slipped in the slippery ground after a heavy downpour. The rain forced the referee to stop the play for six minutes after 29 minutes. But the match resumed again.
With the results, NRT marched to fourth place from fifth with 25 points while Sherpa remained constant in the seventh place with 19 points.
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