Jawalakhel, which climbed to the fourth position after the victory, can finish fourth if fifth placed Army Club gets defeated at the hands of Yeti Airlines Himalayan Sherpa Club during their last clash of the league to be played on Saturday. Only top four teams will be awarded with cash prize. [break]
With the win, Jawalakhel which recorded fifth victory, one draw and three defeats in the league climbed a spot to the fourth position with 16 points. Army has 13 points with better goal margin than the Jawalakhel. Second placed Manang Marshyangdi Club and third placed Sherpa have equal 16 points with a match at hand. Nepal Police Club has already claimed the title with 20 points. Sangam remained steady in ninth place with three points in its kitty.
The victory also became first comeback victory for any team in the ongoing league. The first two goals of Jawalakhel were made possible by Sangam custodian Tenzing Namgyal´s error. None of the team had lost a single match in the league after taking lead, though some matches settled at draw.
On Friday, Sangam surprisingly took the seventh minute lead through Ganesh Lawati when he headed in a cross of Arjun Subba. The goal turned to be the sixth individual goal for Lawati loaned from Armed Police Force (APF) for the National League. Lawati also became the second highest scorer of the league, one goal behind Nawayug Shrestha of the Army.
But Jawalakhel hit back the equalizer capitalizing on an error of Sangam goalie Namgyal. Bishal Rai (jersey no 10) headed in an open position in a cross of Bikram Limbu while the ball was at Namgyal´s range.
Again, Namgyal´s error cost the team dearer as his clearance rebounded off Rai´s (jersey no 10) feet only to get to the back of net. Namgyal was supplied back heal pass by Ajay Gurung.
Skipper Laxmi Narayan Shrestha made it 3-0 in the 71st minute. Substitute Raj Paudel, 58th minute replacement of Gerard Mukonza, sealed the victory during the stoppage time of match.
On Friday, Sangam threw tough challenge to Jawalakhel and created as many as four scoring chances but failed to capitalize on them. Lawati twice missed scoring chances including a one-versus-one with goalie Dinesh Thapa Magar. Similarly, Niraj Shrestha and Arun Subba also missed once apiece.
Following the win, Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC claimed that fourth place was confirmed for his side.
"The boys took the match easily thus we conceded an early goal," KC said, and summed up the overall performance of his side in the league as satisfactory. "The team´s performance in the league was better than that in the Martyrs Memorial League held some months earlier in the capital. But a defeat at the hands of those teams whom we played draw in the Martyrs League was unfortunate," KC said hinting to the defeat at the hands of NRT and Sherpa.
Jawalakhel had finished third at the Martyrs Memorial League but had earned only six points from seven teams of capital currently competing in the National League. But Jawalakhel earned 10 points from those seven teams in the National League.
Sangam´s assistant coach Bikash Gurung said that his team had to suffer against Jawalakhel due to goalie´s mistake.
"The team played well but failed to take advantage of the lead," Gurung said. "We failed to achieve our target of finishing top eight," Gurung said, "However, we had a great experience and were lucky to compete with top flight teams. Besides, the team´s performance was better in Butwal compared to that of Pokhara."
Mega Three Star Club will take on PLO Mitramilan Club of Dharan and Nepal Army Club will vie against Yeti Airlines Himalayan Club during the team´s last league matches.
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