Church Boys take four points lead

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 31: Church Boys United inflicted Nepal APF FC 4-1 to tighten the grip at the top of the Martyr’s Memorial A Division League. 

National team defender Ananta Tamang netted twice while Mausham Subba and Ashish Chaudhary scored one goal apiece in a thrashing of APF at Dashrath Stadium on Tuesday evening.  

After earning vital three points from its 23rd match, Church Boys went four points clear at the top of the table with 41 points. Jawalakhel Youth Club defeated Tribhuwan Army FC 2-0 to garner 37 points and move to second place today. The B Division Champion is three wins away from creating history. Leader Church Boys will be the first team to win the first division title in its debut in top-flight football. 

Unmarked Subba found the first goal in the third minute utilizing the APF’s defensive error while clearing the ball off Ranjeet Singh Pandre.  Captain Tamang double the advantage in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time. 

Franklin Talla flicked the throw-in ball off Manoj Rai to Captain Tamang, who did not make any mistake to direct it into the post of APF.  Tamang trebled the lead in the 55th minute as his header kissed the back of the net while APF goalie Raju Yogi was out of position. 

Aawas Lamichhane made the score line 3-1 in the 83rd minute. He beat two defenders to score from a long range. 

Chaudhary sealed the match for leader Church Boys in the dying minute as his 25-yard powerful strike directly kissed the back of APF’s net. The defeat condemns APF to the ninth position with 29 points from 23 matches. 

Subba gave Church Boys an early lead by scoring in the third minute. Tamang doubled the lead in the seventh minute of first-half stoppage time. 

A brace from Nkoto Masoabi steered Jawalakhel Youth Club to second position with a 2-0 win over Tribhuwan Army FC at Dashrath Stadium on the first match of the day. 

The 10th victory helped Jawalakhel amass 37 points and topple Machhindra FC for the second spot.  Defending champions Machhindra, with one game in hand, stays in third place with 36 points. Machhindra can reclaim second place with a win over Satdobato Youth Club on Wednesday.

The Tribhuvan Army is unmoved in fifth place with 30 points off 23 matches. Masoabi put the Jawalakhel ahead after the restart in the 56th minute. Army keeper Bikesh Kuthu could not save the loose shot of Masoabi in the assist off Samiraj Thokar. 

Jawalakhel survived a couple of scares from Army players before Masoabi doubled the advantage in the 79th minute. Masoabi headed home the cross-off substitute Fode Fofana for his 16th goal of the season. He levelled the goal tally with FC Khumaltar’s Messouke Olomou in the top scorer’s race.  Machhindra’s Olawale Afeez follows in the third position with 15 goals. Jawalakhel also avenged the first-leg defeat against the Army by 3-1.