Police boost survival hopes

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 27: Nepal Police Club boosted its survival hopes after cruising past FC Khumaltar 2-in the Martyrs’ Memorial A Division League at Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu on Friday.

Bharat Shah and Mohammed Ashiq both came off the bench to score for the Police. The win elevated the departmental side from the eleventh to the seventh position. With eight wins, four draws and nine defeats Police amassed 28 points to jump to 

the mid-table. 

The 12th loss, however, compounded more misery for bottom-placed Khumaltar, which is on the verge of relegation in its first season of top-flight football. With five matches to play, Khumaltar needs to win every match to get out of the drop zone. 

Shah put Police ahead in the 75th minute from a header. Ashiq killed the match for the Police in the 87th minute. Police had defeated Khumaltar by 3-1 in their first meeting in the league. 

Assistant Coach of Khumaltar Arjun Subba blamed the poor defence for the loss. “ We have improved our performance against the Police compared to our previous matches. The injury has hit the club hard. We have our captain and main defenders injured. Despite all odds, I will save the club 

from relegation.”  

Coach Chet Kumar Ghimire was pleased to earn vital three points that strengthened the Police Club’s survival hopes. “I am glad to earn vital three points today. I am focusing to finish Police in the top eight spots. After the arrival of foreign players, the club has been winning the matches. The team is now in the comfort zone.”

Sherpa stun Three Star

A last-gaspp goal from Sushil Rai put Himalayan Sherpa Club to the safe after stunning Three Star Club 1-0 on Friday evening.

The match looked to end in a drab draw but the stoppage time goal from Rai in the second half lifted Himalayan Sherpa to the fourth position with 29 points from 21 matches. 

Unmarked Rai scored a stunning volley goal in the rebound from inside the box.

Three Star Club dropped down to the tenth position with 26 points.