Satdobato rally for thrilling 3-3 draw vs Army

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 10: William Opoku rescued Satdobato Youth Club from a defeat to pull a draw against Tribhuvan Army FC in a six-goal thriller at the Martyr’s Memorial A Division League at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu on Sunday evening.

The two goals from Gillespye Jung Karki and one from Dipak Gurung have given Army FC the advantage but Satdobato retaliated with an equaliser after conceding each goal.

After sharing points, Satdobato moved to third place with 13 points from seven matches. Army FC jumped to seventh place with nine points.

Manang Marsyangdi Club leads the point table with 14 points with one game in hand.  Being inferior at goal difference, Jawalakhel lagged behind in the second with 14 points from seven matches.  

Along with Opoku, Sardorbek Matmuratov and Suraj Basnet scored for Satdobato.

Captain Karki put Army ahead in the fourth minute as he nodded the cross off Jagjeet Shrestha into the post.

Satdobato cancelled out Army’s lead in the 25th minute through Basnet taking advantage of poor defence.

Captain Karki restored Army’s lead in the 38th minute. Skipper Karki netted the clearance ball of Satdobato's defender Pasang Lama from the six-yard box.

Matmuratov levelled the score 2-2 for Satdobato in the 48th minute. Gurung yet again restored Army’s lead in the 52nd minute.

Opoku rescued Satdobato from a defeat in the 85th minute to end the match in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Machhindra beat Sankata

Coach Kishore KC marked his debut at Machhindra Football Club with a 2-1 victory over Sankata Club at Dasharath Stadium.

Bimal Gharti Magar and Olawale Afeez netted one goal apiece to give defending champions Machhindra a second win of the season. 

Manish Dangi scored a consolation goal for Sankata.

The win moved Machhindra to eighth place in the league standings with nine points. With an equal nine points, Sankata is in seventh place.

Machhindra announced the appointment of Kishor KC as head coach on Sunday morning for the remaining 19 matches of the league. 

As an interim coach, KC was looking at Machhindra after regular coach Prabesh Katuwal resigned to take the job of assistant coach at the national team. 

Under KC’s reign, Jawalakhel Youth Club finished in ninth place in the last edition of the league.

After making a winning start Coach KC said he joined Machhindra to win the title. "I joined Machhindra with an aim of winning the title. I am ready for the competition." 

Sankata’ Coach Salyan Khadgi said the turning point of the game was to conceding a goal in the first minute of the second half. 

"Suffering a defeat at the hands of Machhindra affected our title-winning plan. We are here for three points but failed on it." 

"Defense line made a mistake in both goals we conceded. A huge communication gap between defenders was noticed today.”

Striker Magar put defending champion ahead in the 19th minute. He scored a stunning goal beating Sankata goalie Tenkendra Singh Thapa inside the box.

Dangi levelled the tally for Sankata in the 21st minute from inside the edge of the box after his powerful strike in Ayush Ghalan's assist kissed Machhindra's net.

Olawale sealed the match for the White Lion in the 46th minute of the match after his powerful strike from inside the box kissed the net hitting the gloves of Keeper Thapa.

Meantime, Machhindra's defender Chhiring Gurung collapsed during injury time. 

He fell down to the ground after colliding with his teammate Pujan Uperkoti in an attempt to clear the ball. 

After the first aid treatment, defender Chhiring was rushed to the Blue Cross Hospital, Tripureshwor. Machhindra's physio Suraj Bhusal informed that Chhiring was out of danger. 

NRT register first victory

New Road Team (NRT) registered a first victory at the League after beating Himalayan Sherpa Club by 2-1 at ANFA Complex, Lalitpur.

NRT climbed one position up to 12th place with six points from seven matches. With an equal point, Himalayan Sherpa remains in the 10th position in the goal differences.

NRT came from one goal down to claim the victory. Rohan Khadgi and Jenish Prajapati netted one goal each for NRT while Khamir Gilsan Khandangwa scored a consolation goal for Sherpa.

Khandangwa opened the account for Himalayan Sherpa in the 14th minute and Rohan Khadgi levelled the score for NRT in the 66th minute.

Prajapati sealed the match for the winning side in the dying minute of the match to confirm NRT’s first three points.