Following the results, NRT retained top spot with 24 points after the completion of the first leg to qualify for the President´s Cup while police remained constant in second place with 23 points. The President´s Cup is scheduled to be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh from May 12 to 16. [break]
Leaders NRT, after playing the draw against Friends in the first match of the day, were reliant on the results between the departmental teams -- police and army -- to determine their fate for the President´s Cup. The draw between the latter two ensured NRT´s place for the first time in the event.
NRT made a dramatic fightback during the last moments of the match. Trailing by two goals, NRT opened the scoring four minutes before time and thumped in the equalizer in the last minute of the stoppage time.
Both the goals for NRT came through header. Danish striker Shayan Mosavi of NRT headed to score the first from the box in a pass set by Jeevan Sinkeman and Ranjit Shrestha headed the equalizer in a pass set by Rakesh Lama. Second highest scorer of the league Mosavi took his goal tally to eight, three goals behind leading scorer Santosh Sahukhala of Three Star.
Earlier, Buddha Chemjong put Friends ahead in the 72nd minute and Pukar Gahatraj added another three minutes later to pile up more pressure on the leaders. Gahatraj scored through a superb shot from the right flank to send the ball at the second bar to stun goalie Surendra Shrestha. Likewise, Gahataraj made a spectacular header in a cross of Ajad Pradhan.
In the first half, NRT were denied from scoring twice as defenders cleared ball from the goal line while goalie Rupak Shrestha was beaten. In the 13th minute, Ukesh Shrestha defended Nirajan Rayamajhi´s strike from the goal line and in the 20th minute Dipak Gurung again defended from the goal line a ball chipped by Mosavi.
In the second half Friends came up with improved performance and piled up consistent pressure but could not continue with their tune in the last moments.
Scorer Chemjong of Friends won the San Miguel Most Valuable Player award.
“The boys displayed low quality show and failed to utilize opportunities,” said NRT coach Diken Suwal.
Coaches once again came down heavily on the referee. Friends coach Mrigendra Mishra said they conceded the equalizer as the match was conducted for longer than the added time shown by fourth officials. Only four minutes of stoppage time was shown but they hit the equalizer in 4 minute and 30 second of added time.
In another match, police netted the equalizer through Jumanu Rai three minutes after they conceded the first goal in the 55th minute from Amrit Basnet of army.
In the aggressive match between the departmental teams, sixth placed army threw a tough challenge to title-holders police. However, both teams failed to make any post attempts in the first half.
But the army were the first to find the back of the net through Basnet who brilliantly struck from the box in a pass supplied by Bhoj Raj Ghimire. Jumanu, while scoring his fourth goal of the league, made a superb strike from the left flank to the second bar in his solo effort.
Defender Ram Kumar Biswas of army won the San Miguel Most Valuable Player award.
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