Bista earns first win for Butwal Lumbini

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 4:Butwal Lumbini FC defeated Sporting Ilam 2-1 to bag their first win of the Nepal Super League on Sunday. Captain Arik Bista scored the winner after Ilam’s Abdoulge Ba cancelled out the lead provided by Stephene Binong. 

The result sees Butwal draw level on points with Ilam, both teams now having three points, Butwal sitting in seventh place and Ilam in sixth. Dhangadhi currently leads the table with seven points. The match came to life in the second half after a dull first half, with Butwal taking the lead in the 49th minute. 

Four minutes after the break, Binong netted a cross from Karki to score Butwal's first goal of the season. 

Despite a stretching dive from Bikesh Kuthu, Ilam conceded a goal in the 49th minute. Ilam missed a penalty before scoring an equaliser in the 78th minute from Ba, who took advantage of a ball that couldn't be cleared by Butwal keeper Mohamodou. 

Earlier, Ilam had the chance to equalize in the 57th minute from a penalty, but a brilliant dive from Butwal custodian Mohamodou foiled Fode Camara's shot. After Saroj Tamang handled the ball in the box, Ilam was awarded another penalty. Butwal's captain Bista secured the win with a free-kick goal two minutes before the end of regulation time. His powerful 35-yard shot left Ilam keeper Kuthu with no chance. 

In addition to their defeat, Ilam was also dealt a blow with the injury of their captain and first-choice keeper Kuthu in stoppage time. Kuthu sustained an injury after colliding with Binong while attempting to block the latter from scoring in an open net. Throughout the first half, Ilam dominated possession but failed to convert any of their chances, while Butwal also had chances but all foiled by Kuthu.

Meantime, Nepal Sports and Events Management (NSEM), organiser of NSL, decided to run the evening match from 5 PM onwards. “Citing the changing weather condition, We decided to adjust the timing of evening matches, now scheduled to commence at 5:00pm from remainder of the league stage matches starting from Monday, December 4,” state the press statement signed by NSEM’s Managing Director Shreyans Karki.