Manang extend winning streak to nine matches

Nepal APF Club’s Aashish Lama (centre) shoots the ball past Machhindra FC players during their Pulsar Martyrs Memorial A Division League match in Lalitpur on Tuesday. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry/THT

Lalitpur, December 18

Signature Manang Marshyangdi Club defeated Valley Chyasal Youth Club 3-1 to extend their winning streak to nine matches in the Pulsar Martyrs Memorial A Division League here at the ANFA Complex grounds today.

Adelaja Somide, Afeez Olawale and Bimal Rana scored one goal each for leaders MMC, while Devendra Tamang netted the consolation goal for Chyasal. With their ninth straight victory, MMC — the only unbeaten side of the league — accumulated maximum 27 points and also restored three-point lead over CMG Club Sankata, who have 24 points from nine matches.

Ruslan Three Star Club, who face Tribhuvan Army Club (17) in the ninth round match on Wednesday, are third with 21 points. The loss was Chyasal’s fourth and they are at the seventh position with 13 points, ahead of Nepal APF Club on superior goal difference.

Somide put MMC ahead in the 16th minute when he met a low cross from Olawale inside the six-yard box. Olawale himself doubled the tally in the 72nd minute after he guided the ball alone from the centre of the pitch before firing past Chyasal goalkeeper Dinesh Thapa Magar. MMC substitute Rana killed the match with his team’s third goal in the 88th minute. Chyasal earned a spot kick in the first minute of the injury time after Olawale committed a foul inside the penalty area and Tamang converted the penalty.

Chyasal created a couple of chances but they were not able to convert any. Amir Shrestha made a feeble attempt in the 20th minute that did not trouble MMC goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha, while Sanjok Rai ended up with a wayward shot in the 51st minute. At the other end, Chyasal custodian Dinesh Thapa Magar saved Victor’s header in the 28th minute, while the custodian denied Anjan Bista in the 58th minute. Thapa Magar then made a brilliant save to stop Olawale’s attempt in the 64th minute.

Earlier, Nepal APF Club registered a 3-1 victory over Machhindra Football Club. Aashish Lama, Yubraj Khadka and Rup Bahadur Lama scored one goal each for the departmental side, while Alaba Ademola Aderbige replied one for Machhindra.

APF took an early lead through Lama’s goal in the third minute. Yuvaraj Khadka dodged as many as three defenders before releasing the ball to Lama, whose shot hit the post and took a deflection to goalkeeper before entering the goal. Khadka doubled the tally in the 12th minute when he headed home following a cross from Shyam Nepali.

Aderbige cut the deficit in the 33rd minute with his first goal of the league but he wasted a chance to level the scores seven minutes later. Lama sealed APF’s victory with his team’s third goal in the 89th minute.

With their fourth win in the league, APF accumulated 13 points from nine matches and they are at the eighth position, while Machhindra have three points to remain at the second from bottom, ahead of New Road Team (one).

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