Jhapa hold Lalitpur to draw, Pokhara, Dhangadhi share points

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 3: Jhapa Football Club and Pokhara Thunders shared points after a late equalizer while Dhangadhi FC and Lalitpur City FC ended their game in a goalless draw in the Nepal Super League (NSL) at the Dasharath Stadium on Saturday.

In the first match of the day, Pokhara settled for a 1-1 draw against Jhapa. Pokhara led the game after a mesmerising header goal in the 19th minute by Moses G. Twum. Maintaining their advantage, Pokhara defended resolutely throughout the regulation 90 minutes.

However, Pokhara’s hopes of securing the win were dashed when they conceded an equaliser in injury time.

Jhapa transformed a free kick into a late equaliser in the 97th minute against 10-men Pokhara.

Jhapa’s centre-back Samandar Ochilov, an Uzbekistan national, scored after hitting the ball that rebounded off the gloves of Pokhara’s goalkeeper Yves Priso.

Kamal Bahadur Thapa of Pokhara was shown a second yellow leading to a red card in the 89th minute after which Pokhara was reduced to ten players. It was the first red card of the season. Meanwhile, Jhapa earned four corners, whereas Pokhara did not secure a single corner throughout the entire game.

Pokhara is now in the second position of the table with five points in three matches. Jhapa, which played its second match on Saturday, secured its first point of the season with the draw.

In the second match of the day, Dhangadhi, topper of the table, and Lalitpur, which is second in the table, also shared the points as none of the teams scored a single goal.

Dhangadhi and Lalitpur got several chances, but they were not capitalised on by either team.

Dhangadhi led the league standings with seven points in three matches, followed by Lalitpur with five points.

Sporting Ilam FC and FC Butwal Lumbini will be competing at Dasharath Stadium on Sunday.