Lalitpur, Pokhara settle for 0-0 draw

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 30: Lalitpur City FC and Pokhara Thunders played out a goalless draw in their second match of the Nepal Super League at Dashrath Stadium, Kathmandu on Wednesday. 

With the draw, Lalitpur returned to the top spot of the table with four points; however, defending champions Kathmandu Rayzrs, who also have four points, sit behind in second place due to goal difference. Pokhara, with four points, remains in third place in the standings.

Both teams came close to scoring throughout the match, but their efforts were ultimately in vain. Pokhara nearly scored in the sixth minute, but midfielder Moses Twum's shot from the right side hit the crossbar. 

Captain Dinesh Rajbanshi cleared Imoh Ezekiel's cross from the goal line in the 19th minute, and Lalitpur's keeper Yves Priso collected the header of Laltipur's marquee Ananta Tamang in the 24th minute.

Lalitpur had many attacking opportunities, but they were unable to break down Pokhara's strong defense. 

Keeper Priso denied striker Imoh in the 30th minute, as the latter's header to the long pass of Sesehang Angdembe went straight into Pokhara's keeper's hands.  nMarquee Tamang was again closer to the goal in the corner of Anil Maharjan but Priso punched away the header of the national team defender in the 32nd minute.

Five minutes later, Omalaja Kareem’s free-kick from the left flank went wide from the second bar. 

Pokhara’s Moses header to the ball off marquee Ayush Ghalan went above the bar in the 43rd minute. Anjal Maharjan saw his free kick go wide from the second bar of Laltipur’s post. 

In the second half, Lalitpur continued to press for a goal, but Pokhara's defense remained resilient. Pokhara also had counter-attacks, but their players could not get their shots on target. 

Dinesh Henjan’s shot from inside the box was cleared by Pokhara’s Franklin Kuete Talla from header in the 47th minute. 

Two minutes later, Lalitpur again missed the opportunity as Anil’s cross to Henjan’s pass went to the hand of Keeper Priso. 

Pokhara also came up with some counter-attack but their player could not get their shot on the target. Mosses missed his header in the 55th minute; Marquee Ayush Ghalan’s long shot skied in the 58th minute. Ghalan’s left-footed shot in the 63rd minute also went above the crossbar.

Pokhara squandered two free kicks in the 72nd and 74th minute with wayward shots. 

Ghalan displayed his dribbling skill to get a shot on target from inside the box but his strike went straight to the hand of Lalitpur’s Keeper Jefery Baltus in the 80th minute. 

Two minutes later, Pokhara’s Joe Aidoo’s shot to the ball of Sanjeeb Bista from 30-yard1 skied.  Aidoo missed the golden opportunity in the 89th minute as he fired his ball into the gloves of Lalitpur’s Keeper. 

Lalitpur's defenders were busy in the late hour foiling the stream of attacks from Pokhara. In the stoppage time, Lalitpur had a couple of chances to score, but Priso saved the free kick of Henjan, and Omolaja Kareem's header to the corner off Henjan went out of the box.

Assistant coach Ravindra Silakar was in the touchline for Lalitpur after their head coach Ian Andrew Gillan was red-carded in the first match against Butwal Lumbini. Both teams played with an unchanged team that gave them a win in the first match. 

Lalitpur defeated Butwal by 2-0 to make the winning start, while Pokhara also made a winning start following their 1-0 win over FC Chitwan.