Church Boys go four points clear

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 20: A 1-0 win over Nepal Police Club helped Church Boys United go four points clear at the top of the Martyr’s Memorial A Division League table on Friday evening. 

The 10th victory earned Church Boys 36 points from 19 matches. The second-placed Jawalakhel Youth has 32 points and defending champions Machhindra FC sits in third with 31 points. 

The second division champion Church Boys is on verge of making history to win the title in the debut at the top tier. Police, struggling to stay in the first division, sits at 11th position with 22 points. 

A goal in the fourth minute of the first-half stoppage time by Milan Rai was enough to ensure the victory of Church Boys in the rain-soaked match at Dashrath Stadium. 

Rai sprang up high to send the corner ball off Kamal Shrestha into the post of Police with a glancing header.

Sherpa move seventh

Himalayan Sherpa Club moved to the seventh spot of the table following a 3-2 victory over Nepal APF Football Club at ANFA Complex, Lalitpur.

With a sixth victory in the league, Sherpa collected 25 points from 19 matches. APF remained in the 10th position with 22 points.

Khamir Gilsan Kandangwa, Pistone Vunyoli Mutaba, and Abayomi Oluwaseun netted each to strengthen Sherpa’s survival at top tier league. Sanish Shrestha and Yubraaj Khadka scored one goal each for APF.

Sherpa took an early lead in the seventh minute through Khamir Gilsan. Mutaba doubled the tally in the 18th minute. Abayomi made the score line 3-0 in the 51st minute. 

Shrestha cut the deficit for APF in the 87th minute and Khadka added a second in the dying minute of 

the match.

Sherpa remained unbeaten against APF by winning the matches in both legs. Sherpa registered a 5-3 comfortable victory over APF in the first leg. 

Khumaltar hold Army

Elsewhere, relegation favourite FC Khumaltar held Tribhuvan Army Football Club to a 2-2 draw at Dasharath Stadium. After sharing a point, Army remained in the sixth spot with 26 points. Khumaltar is unmoved at the bottom of the table with 18 points.

Jagajeet Shrestha and Nawayug Shrestha netted one goal apiece for Army while Pierre Jean Marie Messouke and Stepgane Samir scored one goal each to salvage a point for Khumaltar.

Jagajeet put Army men ahead in the 14th minute after beating Khumaltar goalie Aashish Moktan inside the box.

Messouke levelled the tally for Khumaltar in the 35th minute with a stunning goal on the rebound.

Nawayug restored the Army’s lead in the 51st minute connecting a through ball from Dinesh Hemjan.

Stepgane Samir rescued Khumaltar from the defeat with an equaliser in the 74th minute. 

Khumaltar had defeated Army 3-2 in the first leg of the league.