By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 31: Jawalakhel Youth Club jumped to the third position following their 2-0 victory over Chyasal Youth Club while Brigade Boys Club beat Himalayan Sherpa Club 1-0 to elevate at the sixth position at the Martyrs Memorial A Division League Football on Tuesday.
Rup Bahadur Lama and Bijaya Ghalan scored in two minutes space to give the second win to their team Jawalakhel.
With two wins and two draws, Jawalakhel collected eight points to trail behind Machhindra Club at third place with one point. Jawalakhel are two points behind leader Manang Marsyangdi Club. Chyasal have four points from one win, one draw and two defeats.
Jawalakhel Coach Naresh Thapa said that earning three points have benefitted them. “We are playing for top six spot and the three points we collected today will certainly help us in our goal. In coming days, we will be improving more in our performance.”
Thapa said that putting pressure to their adversary from the beginning helped them to win the match. “In previous matches, we could not produce the desired result despite of putting pressure on the opponents. But we succeed to win today.”
Chyasal’s Coach Bal Gopal Shahukhala said that the game went out of their control and conceded defeat against their city rival Jawalakhel. “We took more pressure and my boys also could not perform to their par. They also played too many miss passes and the game was out of our hand.”
Lama broke the dead lock in the 80th minute as his right-footed shot to Bijaya Ghalan's one touch pass to the ball off Hari Kathayat from right went straight into the Chyasal's post.
Two minutes later, Jawalakhel doubled their lead from Substitute Ghalan, who replaced Striker Aruj Singh in 75th minute. Ghalan, who was in six-yard box, reacted quickly to slot home after goalie Neupane had palmed away the long shot off midfielder Sujit Budhathoki.
Jawalakhel could have taken lead in the ninth minute but Nir Bahadur Ale's shot went inch wide of post. Chiring Gurung also squandered to net the ball for Chaysal in the 34th minute while Captain Santosh Shahukhala also missed to collect his hundredth league goal as his attempt from the penalty box went above the bar.
Taiga's 25-yard free kick went inches wide from the cross bar off Jawalakhel's post in the 51sth minute while Chyasal keeper Alan brilliantly saved Kathayat's shot to Lama's ball seven minutes later. Jawalakhel's players kept keeper Alan busy in regular interval. Alan again warded off the shot off Budhathoki in the 59th minute and saved the free kick off Aruj Singh in the 68th minute. He again denied Lama's long-range shot from diving save in the 69th minute.
Shahukhala again failed to score in the 71st minute as his shot to the second bar went wide. Shahukhala is one goal shy from 100 league goals but has been denied from reaching the milestone in two successive games. He has three goals in his kitty in this season.
Hayota missed to cut the deficit in the 89th minute for Chyasal as his header was well saved by Jawalakhel goalie Tekendra Thapa.
Brigade win
The solitary goal of Bijaya Gurung was enough for Brigade Boys to earn them their second victory. The result meant, Brigade Boys collected six points from two wins and two losses and jumped at the sixth position. Himalayan remained at the 11th place with two points from two draws and two defeats.
Gurung scored in the 17th minute to give Brigade Boys victory in their 100th league match. Gurung’s shot from penalty box hit the Himalayan defender before kissing the back of the net.
Brigade missed the opportunity to double the lead in the 29th minute as Tajudeen Adekunle Busari header could not enter the frame. Gurung was again on the target but his shot from the penalty box was denied by Himalayan goalie Kishor Giri in the 35th minute.
Himalayan too had some shots on target in the second half. Tridev Gurung’s shot was saved by Brigade goalie Bishal Sunar in the 64th minute. Sunar again foiled the attempt from Sanjay Dhimal in the 86th minute.
Himalayan was one man down in the injury time after Niraj Basnet received double card within two minutes space in the injury time.
Following the victory, Brigade’s Coach Khagendra Pun said that his plan to make the historic day memorable worked out. “We have a plan to make the historic day memorable with win and all the players performed well to produce the win.”
Sherpa Coach Sanjeeb Budhathoki said that they failed to win the match despite of his players giving their best. “We could not play the first half as expected. The second half is better than the first but still we could not fetch the goal. Our opponent played well today.”