Following the result, RCT climbed two steps to fifth with 20 points while APF remained unchanged in 10th spot with 11 points after the completion of the second match of the second leg. [break]
Machhindra with their fourth win of the league progressed one spot to seventh position with 18 points in their kitty and Friends slipped to sixth from the fifth place.
Rai, who scored both the goals for RCT within two minutes, also became the joint second highest scorer of the league with eight goals in his account along with Shayan Mosavi of New Road Team. Santosh Sahukhala of Nabil Three Star leads the goal scorers´ list with 15 goals under his belt.
Rai opened the scoring in the third minute of the second half and added another two minutes later. To score the first goal beating an offside trap, Rai sprinted with the ball from the mid area and beat goalie Samit Rajbhandari in a pass supplied by Prabesh Katuwal. Likewise, he doubled the advantage with a header in a cross of Buddha Lama which entered the net hitting the pole.
Ganesh Lawati pulled one back for APF one minute from time through a header in a cross of skipper Kumar Thapa.
APF manager Prem Shrestha said that luck did not favor his side. “We failed to utilize four clear opportunities in the first half,” Shrestha said. Commenting on the goal conceded by his side, he said, “Lack of defensive marking was the cause for conceding both goals.”
Earlier, Brazilian striker for Machhindra Sores scored the decider in the 51st minute utilizing a ball that Friends defender Deepak Bhusal failed to clear properly in the box.
Friends enjoyed more ball possession in the first half but the second half of the match seemed to be balanced. Both the coaches believed that the match was a 50/50 game.
Machhindra coach Meghraj KC said that there was still lack of coordination among foreign and domestic players of his side.
Friends coach Mrigendra Mishra said that luck did not favor them as they failed to utilize scoring opportunities. He pointed out defending error for defeat in the match.
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