Earlier, in the day’s kick off match Nawayug Shrestha scored four goals in Nepal Army Club’s 5-1 rout of home side Caravan Sangam FC. Shrestha also turned out to be the first player to complete hat-trick in the league and top the scorer list with four goals. The other goal for departmental team, which registered its first win, came from Tanka Basnet.[break]
Following the result, MMC dropped one spot to the third position with three points, while NRT climbed two spots to the second position with four points. MMC could have taken a lead on the standing had it defeated NRT. Army leapfrogged four spots and reached to the fourth with three points. Sangam hit the bottom of the table with no point. All four teams have played two matches apiece.
MMC and NRT had played 1-1 draw in the Martyrs Memorial League held five months ago in the capital.
The MMC-NRT clash turned tensed during the stoppage time. Sushil KC set pass for the first goal and scored another from the penalty spot.
For the first goal, KC set an acute cross for Rajan Adhikari, who headed from the danger area to stun star studded MMC, which consists of seven Nepali and four foreign players in the squad.
KC made it 2-0 through spot kick after MMC defender Deepak Bhusal handled the ball inside the danger area. NRT had netted in the 40th minute through Bishnu KC but the referee ruled it out as foul. However, NRT coach Raju Shakya criticized the referee’s decision saying it a clean goal.
Though the match remained balanced in the first half, MMC’s three brilliant attempts failed to get the back of the net. National player Bijay Gurung missed two chances while NRT goalie Raju Yogi stopped Mbile Leonel Stephan’s attempt on one-on-one.
MMC dominated the entire second half, created frequent chances and made several post attacks. MMC pulled one back seven minutes into second half, when its African recruit Zambo Anatole Thiery headed in a corner taken by Sabindra Shrestha.
MMC coach Hari Om Shrestha termed the defeat as bad luck. “Sometimes a good show is not enough and you need luck to win a match. We were unlucky today,” Shrestha said, adding, that his side conceded the first goal due to defensive errors.
NRT coach Shakya said that his side came under pressure after interval as the team failed to hold the ball. “Today luck was also with us.”
In the day’s first match, 21-year old Nawayug Shrestha scored in the eighth, 72nd, 76th and in the stoppage time for Nepal Army in its win over Sangam FC, the home team.
Tanka Basnet scored the Army’s second goal in the 42nd minute, as the Army was 2-0 up until the break. The consolation goal for Sangam came from Ganesh Lawati in the 65th minute through a spectacular free kick from 25 yards.
Shrestha, who also tops the highest scorer chart with four goals, made a beautiful acrobatic shot from the box to open scoring utilizing Raju Tamang’s corner. Basnet doubled the tally in counter attack sprinting the ball long way and then beating advancing custodian Tenzing Namgel with a powerful shot.
Shrestha volleyed in a pass from Hari Mahato for his second goal and completed his hat-trick utilizing a rebounder. Mahato’s shot rebounded off Sangam’s goalie and Shrestha utilized it. Banset set him a pass for his fourth goal.
“I was assigned the role of an attacking midfielder for the first time by coach, and I also got ample good passes,” said Shrestha, who hails from Ilam. “I am happy with the results and wish to put same level of performance in future. Raju Tamang, Santosh Nepali and Tanka dai supplied me acute passes and I thank the whole team for my achievement.”
Army coach Yogambar Suwal said that his side got off to a good start and achieved the target of opening scoring within initial 15 minutes. “Our new strategy of playing with only one striker worked properly.” Sangam coach Pushpa KC said that the Army team was physically tough and having young inexperienced players was a major setback for his side.
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