Machhindra enjoying its best season in the top level football scored two late goals to maintain its unbeaten run to five matches. Super-sub Denis Ouko broke the deadlock in the 84th minute and skipper Deepak Rai sealed the win in the first minute of four minutes of stoppage time.[break]
The kick off match witnessed Friends Club achieve its first win and climb out of relegation zone with a lone goal coming from Bishnu KC in the 31st minute.
With a draw and four wins, Machhindra has 13 points, three points ahead of the second placed RCT that can level points if it beats Jawalakhel on Tuesday. Bansbari with only one point is second from the bottom. Friend moved two spots up to 12th with four points. The first defeat left Sankata at eight points, with two wins and two draws, unchanged in the fifth spot.
Ouko, a late first half replacement of Edris Olyirike, put Machhindra ahead with his lone show, beating past as many as three defenders and firing past the diving goalee Ajeet Prajapati. The goal as the third for the African who had struck twice in its 2-0 win over APF in the last match after coming as 34th minute replacement of skipper Rai.
Skipper Rai sealed the victory when he quickly beat an advancing goalie in a one-versus-one situation at the edge of the box to send the ball into the open net.
Machhindra made a couple of attack on goal in either half. In the 22nd Santosh Singh made a goalline clearance to prevent Bishal Rai A header in Bishal Rai B corner. In the 63rd, Bishal Rai B freekick from the edge went out hitting bar. Rai B and skipper Deepak Rai were denied in the 64th and 71 minutes.
Machhindra coach Raju Shakya admitted his tactics did not work as Nepali clubs do not have consistency in their performance. "The match was well coordinated in the second half and I am satisfied to snatch a vital win."
Bansbari coach Hari Om Shrestha said that the midfield could not fulfill their duty properly. "Red card to African player Luck Obatta in the last match also hampered the team. Though we have relegation pressures, we still have 10 matches in hand."
In the day´s kick off, Bishnu KC scored the vital goal for Friends taking advantage of Ndoe Mbarga Pierre´s blunder who came out of the area and performed keepie uppie rather than clearing it. He slipped the ball for KC who scored an easy goal from the edge.
Jagjeet Shrestah squandered a couple of scoring chances for Friends while custodian Bashir Ibrahim Toyan denied Zikahe Leonce Dodoy and Bishnu KC shot.
Sankata created only one scoring chance. But Barsat Gurung missed scoring opportunity in the 24th minute as he made a feeble shot from the area.
Sankata coach Maheshwar Muli said that his side was defeated due to goalkeeper Pierre´s blunder. Friends´ assistant coach Ramesh Maharjan, who took the charge of team absence of Dilkaji Gurung, said that the victory was vital for the team and it would be difficult to fight for top eight position.
Today´s matches
Madhyapur Vs Army @ 12:30 NST
MMC Vs NRT @ 14:30 NST
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