Jawalakhel take 5-point clear lead at a top

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 23: Jawalakhel Youth Club took a five-point clear lead at the top of the ongoing Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League point table after they thrashed second-place Church Boys United 1-0 at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu on Saturday.

After winning the clash between the top two teams, Jawalakhel took a five-point clear lead at the top of the table with 23 points from 11 matches while Church Boys United has trailed at the second place with 18 points from 11 matches and Nepal Police Club is at the bottom of the league table with six points from as many matches they played. 

Nkoto Synous Masoabi scored the winning goal for leader Jawalakhel. Nkoto confirmed Jawalakhel’s top position at the table in the 65th minute. He scored a stunning goal from inside the box and his powerful strike kissed the back side of Church Boys United net hitting the 

goalie Priso.

Nkoto’s brilliant goal came from his solo effort after receiving an acute assist from Fode Fofana from the central part of the ground to register seven wins in the league. 

The first half between Jawalakhel and Church Boys United had ended in a goalless draw but Jawalakhel earned a vital three points with a second half goal from Nkoto. 

The battle between top two teams was mouth-watering and both teams created lots of goal scorer chances but all the effort went in vain. 

Manang suffers four defeats in a row

The record eight-time league winner Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) suffered a fourth defeat in a row in the league after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Khumaltar Youth Club at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu on Saturday.

After humiliating domestic football powerhouse Manang, Kumaltar Youth Club climbed to ninth place with 13 points from 11 matches while Manang remained in the seventh position with 15 points from 11 matches they played.

Messouke Etiegnie Oloumou netted a brace for Khumaltar while Koffi Timothee Koudo scored a consolation for one of the title favorites Manang.

The match between Manang and Khumaltar was competitive but unluckily Manang suffered a defeat from the hands of Khumaltar after they missed to score in the penalty. 

Messouke put Khumaltar ahead in the 13th minute after beating two defenders of Manang. 

Koffi Timothee leveled the score 1-1 for Manang in the 53rd minute through penalty. FIFA referee Shyam Danuwar awarded Manang with a penalty after Khumaltar’s player Bishal Basnet brought down Sumit Shrestha of Manang inside their own box.

Manang failed to take the lead in the 61st minute after Manang’s striker Koffi Timothee failed to convert the penalty. FIFA referee Danuwar awarded Manang with a penalty after Abhishek Verma of Khumaltar brought down Randip Poudel of Manang inside their own box.

Messouke confirmed three points for Khumaltar as he sealed the match for the winning side in the dying minute of the match. Messouke also scored his individual second goal. 

Machhindra climbs into the sixth spot Defending champion Machhindra Football Club climbed to the sixth spot at Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League after they registered a 2-1 victory over Friends Club at Chyasal Stadium, Lalitpur on Saturday.

With a victory over Friends Club, Machhindra climbed into the sixth position with 16 points from 11 matches while Friends Club is in the 11th place with 11 points from 11 matches they played. Bhutan’s national men’s football team captain Chencho Gyeltshen and Devendra Tamang netted one goal apiece for Machhindra while Rafiq Aminu scored a consolation goal for victim Friends Club.

Bhutanese ‘Ronaldo’ Chencho put holders Machhindra ahead in the 45th minute and he scored his first goal in the ongoing league. He joined Machhindra from the seventh round of the league. 

Tamang doubled Machhindra’s tally in the 63rd minute of the match. Rafiq Aminu cut the deficit for Friends in the 76th minute of the match.