Ramesh Tamang and skipper Krishna Gopal Shrestha scored in either half in Saraswati´s win over Three Star to come up with the third surprising result in the league that kicked off on Tuesday. [break]In the first day, defending champion Nepal Police Club and runner up Laxmi Hyundai were forced to settle for draw by unfancied sides.
In the evenly contested match, Tamang put Koteshwar based Saraswati ahead two minutes before the interval. Tamang headed in a right-flank cross of Dilen Loktan. Sanotsh Sahukhala leveled the score four minutes into the second half in a cross supplied from the right flank.
Machhindra Football Club (Red) vs Jawalakhel Youth Club. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
Skipper Shrestha restored the lead for Saraswati, studded with four African players, in the hour mark. Shrestha, left unmarked, directed the ball towards net from just outside the goalline in a tactful pass supplied by Dilen Loktan.
"To earn three points from a team like Three Star is like winning the league for us," Saraswati coach Dhruba KC said. "Tanzanian forward Yona Elias Ndabila failed to play up to expectation and we missed three scoring chances in the first half."
According to KC, some members of the squad had arrived a day earlier while some came today (Wednesday) morning.
Saraswati´s Senegalese defender came up with a stubborn performance to thwart Three Star attacks on many occasions. In the first half, Three Star, studded with four Nepali internationals, hardly made attacks on the goal while Saraswati created a couple of dangerous move.
Three Star piled immense pressure during the last 15 minute of the match but failed to find the equilizer. Saraswati goalkeeper Ashok Baral made a diving punch to deny Santosh Sahukhala´s well placed freekick. Similarly, Three Star´s Nigerian player Victory squandered a golden chance to equalize as he struck the bar after beating custodian Baral.
Three Star´s coach Pradip Humagain said that the team was defeated after midfield failed in its duty. "The midfield could not perform its duty well," said Humagain who complained of short preparation time for the league after Tihar festival. "As it is our first match it will have impact on the league. But not that big an impact," said Humagain.
Earlier in the day´s kick off match Bishal Rai and skipper Deepak Rai netted a brace each in Machhindra´s empathetic win.
Bishal opened the scoring against his former club Jawalakhel in the 10th minute and netted his second goal in the 76th. Machhindra had eight players in its line up who were in Jawalakel squad in the last season. Nine players of Jawalakhel had joined Machhindra in the current season.
Machhindra scored the first goal taking advantage of defensive blunder by Jawalakhel´s Sushil Shah who left the ball freely to Bishal in the area. He made a spectacular display to score his second goal in sole effort.
Machhindra was 2-0 up in the 14th minute after Sushil Shah scored an own goal in his attempt to clear a cross from the right flank. Skipper Deepak made it 3-0 in the 41st minute when he controlled a pass from Laxmi Shrestha and fired at the far post from right side. Deepak killed off the match with a one touch finish from close range in a short pass supplied by Bishal.
Raj Paudel scored the consolation goal for Jawalakhel in the 58th minute.
Despite the big win Machhindra coach Raju Shakya said that the team failed to live up to its perform at the Safal Cup held about a month ago in Pokhara. "Some members of the team arrived only yesterday and the team is yet to settle," said Shakya.
Jawalakhel coach Kishor KC said he failed to implement his plans due to mistake of the Club management. "I was informed that I could field two African players in today´s match and they had also warmed up with the team before match. But club president came to me before the match and said the foreigner players were ineligible to play today (Wednesday)," said KC adding, "I was shocked to hear that and I could not implement my plans." KC also blamed the defeat to poor defensive performance and unavailability of match ball by ANFA.
Thursday´s matches
Himalayan Sherpa VS APF @ 12:30 NST
RCT Vs Bauddha Football Club @ 14:30 NST
Venue: Dasharat Stadium
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