The result however did not have much impact on the points table. Bansbari and Bauddha FC remained unchanged in the second last and last positions respectively. Bauddha opened its accounts in the points table with the draw and Bansbari has two points from second draw after seventh match. Police moved a spot up to seventh position with eight points and Friends remained unchanged in 12th place with seven points.[break]
Police piled up consistence pressure against Bansbari but failed to find the net despite about half a dozen attacks on goal.
"We created many chances but we were unfortunate not to convert the chances," said Birat Krishna Shrestha, the coach of Police. "We did not have sound finishing due to lack of understanding among players. Besides this, I don´t have ideal replacement of injured players."
In the 37th minute, Chetan Ghimire´s diving header in skipper Jumanu Rai´s cross was denied by diving Bansbari goalie Ajeet Prajapati. In the 42nd minute, Parbat Pandey´s 30-yard freekick was punched to safety by Prajapati. Three mintues later Bhola Silwal missed an easy chance for Police from the area after dribbling past three Bansbari players.
In the injury time of first half, Charles Rai made a goal-line clearance to stop Jumanu Rai from scoring after goalie Prajapati was beaten. In the 82nd minute, glovesman Prajapati made a finger tip save to deny Parbat Pandey from scoring.
Bansbari could mount only one attack on goal. But Police goalie Ritesh Thapa caught Shyam Babu Magar´s powerful low shot from the edge.
Bansbari´s newly appointed coach Dipesh Yonjan Lama opined that to earn point from strong team like Police was an achievement for his side.
In the kick off match, minnow Bauddha were unfortunate to squandered 3-1 lead against the national player studded Friends.
Bauddha took the driving seat in the 32nd minute through Subin Shreshta who also netted the second goal. Shrestha guided the ball towards net in a short pass of Buddha Lama who seized the ball from Ajad Pradhan.
Friends leveled score in the 40th minute through skipper Sagar Thapa who made a free header from the area in Ritesh Malla cross. Subin Shrestha however restored Bauddha´s lead in the injury time of first half in Rajan Adhikari pass. Shrestha left unmarked in the area scored in his own rebounder of goalie Bhasir at the far post. With is double, Shrestha took his goal scoring tally to four goals.
Shrestha also created the momentum for third goal after he was fouled in the area by African player Peter prompting referee Laba Khatri to award penalty three minutes into the second half. Bauddha skipper Susan Lama converted to take his team 3-1 up.
Substitute Bishnu KC who came as replacement of Ajad Pradhan in the 35th minute cut the goals deficit with a low ball strike from the area. Friends got the equalizer in the 70th minute with an own goal from skipper Susan Lama. While trying to defend Diwas Gurung shot in the area, the ball entered net changing its course after deflection off skipper Lama chest.
Today´s matches
APF Vs Army @ 12:30 NST
Saraswati Vs NRT @ 14:30 NST
Bansbari coach Shrestha sacked
KATHMANDU : A division outfit Mahindra Bansbari FC has sacked its coach Hari Om Shrestha midway through the league. According to Madhusudan Upadhyaya, general secretary of the club, the relegation-threatened club was forced to sack the coach as he did not give sufficient time to the team.
"The club is facing relegation threat and coach Shrestha did not give the club sufficient time," Upadhyaya said. "In such a critical situation Shrestha has participated in the month-long B level coaching course. A coach cannot give satisfactory results by making a presence only on the match day."
Shrestha had joined Bansbari four months ago for the current season. In the last season, Shrestha had guided the team to 10th position.
Meanwhile, Shrestha said that he was forced to leave the club due to lack of time. "B license course is also being conducted at the same time. The club asked me to either leave the coaching course or the club. Thus I decided to leave the club."
Shrestha has been replaced by Deepesh Yonjan, former assistant coach of Bauddha FC. Yonjan achieved a draw against Nepal Police Club in his first match on Sunday.
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