Jhapa deny Lalitpur top spot

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 16: Lalitpur City Football Club (LCFC) was denied the top spot in the table of Nepal Super League (NSL) by Jhapa Football Club (JFC) at the 25th match of the season held in Dasharath Stadium on Friday.

After settling to a 1-1 draw, the second-placed Lalitpur managed to cut league leader Dhangadhi FC’s lead by just one point. Dhangadhi tops the table with 11 points while Lalitpur trail behind with 10 points from two wins and four draws.

A victory against Jhapa would have secured three additional points for LCFC, propelling them to the top spot with 12 points.

However, despite numerous scoring opportunities and sustained pressure on the opponent, LCFC was unable to find the back of the net against Jhapa. 

Conversely, JFC was also engaged in a must-win scenario. A victory over LCFC would have propelled Jhapa, which was in the sixth position with six points from five games, to the second position, causing LCFC to drop  to the third spot.

Nevertheless, the draw against LCFC helped Jhapa climb a position in the table. With seven points, Jhapa is now in the fifth spot toppling FC Butwal Lumbini, which also has seven points in six games, on goal difference.

While the match ended goalless, there were enough chances for more than one goal. LCFC’s first attempt on the post was by Dinesh Henjan in the 3rd minute, but it hit the crossbar. 

JFC’s first attempt came in the 7th minute as Anjan Bista prepared a ball to shoot for Awas Lamichhane, but the shot went away from the post.

The first half witnessed several physical challenges as the referee had to issue five yellow cards in 17 fouls, nine by LCFC and eight by JFC. LCFC’s captain Ananta Tamang made two silly mistakes in the first half, but Jhapa players failed to capitalised them. 

Anjan missed a chance when Ananta chested the ball slowly towards the keeper in the 23rd minute. A poor clearance by Ananta in the 45th minute was shot towards the goal by Jorge P. Sanchez, but Jeffery Baltus made the save.

While both teams were creating chances in the first half, LCFC dominated the second half. A cross inside the box in the starting minutes of the second half was missed by Nikhil S. Kadam. The follow-up inside the box by Papa Ibou Kebe was also not headed inside by Imoh Ezekiel.

Kebe also missed chances to score in the 50th minute, 62nd minute and 90+2 minute. Imoh also shot a ball above the crossbar in the 90+1 minute of the match.

The pressure continued until the end of the final whistle. Stefan Cupic made two saves at the end denying a chance for Jhapa to win. Cupic saved a header from Ananta in 90+4 minutes and the final shot by Anil Maharjan, a substitute, before the end of the seven minutes of injury time.

Birgunj United FC and Pokhara Thunders will play the first match on Saturday followed by an evening match between FC Chitwan and Sporting Ilam FC.