Kathmandu qualifies for playoffs with Lalitpur, Dhangadhi and Pokhara

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 24: Title-defender Kathmandu Rayzrs FC (KRFC) has kept its chance to win the Nepal Super League alive for the second time after defeating Lalitpur City FC (LCFC) 1-0 in the final league match on Saturday and qualifying for the playoffs.

Kathmandu desperately needed a win as a draw or loss against Lalitpur would have seen Jhapa FC qualifying for the playoffs. The header by Andres Nia Tchounkeu over a cross by Komilzhon Tozhidinov in the injury time of the first half was enough to settle the match.

Lalitpur’s goalie Jeffery Baltus and Kathmandu’s Anjal Shrestha were busy throughout the match despite conceding only one goal. Baltus was unable to save the header by Nia to give Kathmandu the win while Anjal saved every shot in the frame. The winning goal helped Nia win the player of the match.

A freekick by Shokhrukh Makhmudkhozhiev in the 43rd minute was one of the best moments. The ball bended towards the top far corner beating Baltus and heading towards the back of the net but hit the crossbar. 

Papa Ibou Kebe and Imoh Ezekiel did everything they could, but failed to score goals for either an equaliser or a comeback for Lalitpur. Kathmandu, which started the first half with intense pressure on the opponent, also missed many chances.

Lalitpur was dominant in the second half. The dominance intensified after Amit Tamang was shown a red card for headbutting Nikhil Kadam in the 75th minute. However, Lalitpur could not take advantage of several chances created against the 10-men Kathmandu until the final whistle. 

On the other hand, Birgunj United FC would have also extended its chance for the playoffs if it won against FC Butwal Lumbini in the first match on Saturday. However, Butwal Lumbini won with a goal in the 90+ injury time to not end the campaign as the bottom team in the league. 

While the game was coming to an end at a score of 0-0, substitute Chandan Das converted a pass from Arik Bista into a last-minute goal from between the legs of goalie Deep Karki in 90+3 minutes. Bista was adjudged the player of the match.

If Birgunj had won, it would have been playing in the playoffs as Lalitpur would have been knocked out of the top four after the win by Kathmandu. 

After Birgunj’s chances were washed away by Butwal Lumbini, Lalitpur, which would have qualified for the playoffs even if it lost the match against Kathmandu, was looking for a win to climb to the second position in the league and earn an extra chance for the qualifiers.

Now, league-topper Pokhara Thunders FC and second-positioned Dhangadhi FC will play Qualifier 1 on December 25. The winner will book a place in the finals. The losing team will get another chance.

Third and fourth-positioned Kathmandu and Lalitpur will play the Eliminator on December 26. The winner will play Qualifier 2 on December 28 against the losing side of Qualifier 1 for a place in the finals being held on December 30.