By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Dec 5 : Cameroonian defender Franklin Kuete Talla rescued title favourites Manang Marsyangdi Club from defeat at the ongoing Martyr's Memorial 'A' Division League as Manang and Sankata Club played 2-2 draw in a dramatic way at Dashrath Stadium, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu on Saturday.

Niraj Basnet and second-choice Uttam Rai netted one goal apiece while mid-fielder Dayananda Singh Elangbam, of India, and Cameroonian defender Franklin scored one goal each to rescue the most successful team of the League in a dramatic match.

After a 2-2 draw, Manang failed to take three points as they remained at the second spot with seven points from three matches they played while with an equal seven points from three matches newcomer Satdobato Youth Club is at summit of the league standing with better goal difference. Similarly, Sankata moved to the third place with five points from three matches.

Niraj Basnet put Sankata ahead in the 31st minute through a head goal after connecting the free kick taken by Laxman Ruchal.

Indian Elangbam leveled the score 1-1 for Manang in the 35th minute as he scored a brilliant goal in the pass off Franklin in the Pujan Uperkoti's free kick.

The second-choice forward, Uttam Rai, restored the Sankata lead in the 70th. He scored a stunning goal from the six yard box in the Fode Fofana assist.

Franklin rescued holders Manang from the jaw of defeat in the dying minute of the match. Franklin scored a volley goal from the edge of the box off a ball that was cleared by Sankata's Niraj Basnet.
Tampi Ernest of Sankata was declared the man of the match and his teammate Jaya Gurung was declared the emerging player of the match.

After they managed to hold a 2-2 draw against eight times league winner Manang, Sankata coach Bishnu Gurung said that they played according to their plan against Manang and they succeeded to hold the league favourite .

"We are successful in our plan against Manang, I am happy with the result as all players played very well and conceded a goal in the dying minute, the main reason behind the draw," Coach Gurung said.
Manang coach Rajendra Tamang blamed players for failing to hold the ball and to have upper hand in ball possession against the rivals.

"Our defenders committed blunders so we conceded goals. Owing to our better luck we scored the goald in the dying minute.The coordination showed by our players was poor though we had many experienced defenders, who failed to make better coordination during the match," Tamang said.

NRT, Chyasal share points
New Road Team (NRT) and Chyasal Youth Club shared a points at the ongoing Martyr's Memorial 'A' Division League after they played 1-1 draw in the second held at Dashrath Stadium, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
After a 1-1 draw, Chyasal remained at the eight spot with four points from three matches.

Similarly, an equal points four points Brigade Boys Club in the fourth, Nepal Police Club in the fifth, defending champion Machhindra Football Club in the sixth and Three Star Club in the seventh spot in the goal difference.

Likewise, Armed Police Force (APF) is at the bottom of the league standing with zero points from three matches they played.
Rumesh Bartaula put ahead Chyasal Youth Club but Dipesh Ghale rescued New Road Team slamming home an equaliser.

Bartaula opened the Chyasal account in the 43rd minute. He scored a stunning goal from inside the box in the clearance off New Road Team Messouke Etiegnie Oloumou in the Kamal Shrestha's flank cross.
Ghale rescued New Road Team from defeat as unmarked Ghale scored an equaliser from inside the box in the poor clearance ball of Chyasal Rajiv Lopchan in the 78th minute. Ghale scored an equalizer in the first minute of his entrance in the ground.

Biraj Maharjan of Chyasal Youth Club was declared the Man of the match and his team mate Rumesh Bartaula was declared the Emerging player of the match.
Ghale had replaced Ashok Thapa in the 78th minute.

After a 1-1 draw, NRT coach Raju Kaji Shakya said that his players played well as compared to their last match against Brigade Boys in the second round.

"Our players had failed to make better communication as the foreigner players couldn't give pass to the Nepalese players and Nepalese also did the same in the ground. Foreigners Messouke and Stephane Binong couldn't put up the same performance as they had done during the Nepal Super League," Coach Shakya said.

Chyasal Coach Bal Gopal Sahukhala blamed NRT for affecting their speed during the match though defenders played very well against NRT.
"The referee, Bishwas Karki ,was inexperienced while conducting the match, we lost our fair play after NRT put up a rough game," Coach Sahukhala said.