APF cruises to fourth victory
KATHMANDU, Dec 19: Manang Marshyangdi Club extended its winning run to nine games after defeating Chyasal Youth Club 3-1 in the ongoing Martyr’s Memorial A-Division League on Tuesday.
Goals from Adelaja Somide, Afeez Olawale, and Bimal Rana helped Manang reclaim its three-point advantage at the top of the table at the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Complex in Satdobato.
With only four games left to play, Manang is in a position to win the league having already beaten favorites Three Star Club and Tribhuvan Army Club.
Manang took the lead through Somide as he scored from the six-yard box after a cross from right side of the pitch from Olawale in the 16th minute.
Manang doubled its lead as Olawale scored dribbling three to four Chyasal players on his way in the 72nd minute, while substitute Bimal Rana scored the third for Manang in the 87th minute.
Chyasal pulled a goal back as a consolation with the help of a spot kick as it was awarded the kick after Mohammed Asif fouled a Chyasal player inside the box. Devendra Tamang converted the penalty for Chyasal in the injury time.
Manang had other chances to score as well but could not capitalize them, and had to be satisfied for a 3-1 win. It started attacking from the first and presented suitable opportunities from the back to the forward players.
Also, Manang prioritized its counter-attacking tactics with runs from the flanks and balls from the midfield helping Manang in its cause to win the match.
Manang’s Heman Gurung hit a free-kick which was delivered to Viktor, but his header was saved by Chyasal keeper Dinesh Thapa Magar in the 28th minute.
Anjan Bista failed to score for the two games in a row, as the striker, who has scored five goals so far in the league, hit a shot, but was saved by the keeper in the 58th minute. The chance was followed by Olawale’s fierce shot which the keeper struggled but eventually saved in the 64th minute.
Chyasal also got a couple of chances, but could not properly convert them into goals. Amir Shrestha’s poor shot from outside the box was saved by Manang keeper Bishal Shrestha in the 20th minute, while Elvis passed the ball to Sanjok Rai, whose shot went over the bar in the 51st minute.
With the win, Manang now has 27 points from nine games and is at the top of the table, while Chyasal is seventh with 13 points from the same number of games.
In the other match played earlier on the same day, departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) registered its fourth win of the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Machhindra Club.
Goals from Ashish Lama, Yubraj Khadka, and Roop Bahadur Lama helped the departmental team register a win. A goal from Alaba Ademola was the first one Machhindra has scored this season.
Ashish gave APF the lead in the third minute as he beat three defenders on the way, and hit a shot which touched the underside of the bar and went in. Khadka then doubled the lead as he received a cross from Shyam Nepali, and scored from a header in the 11th minute.
Ademola pulled a goal back for Machhindra in the 33rd minute.
In the last minute of the second half, Roop made the score 3-1 and sent the game out of Macchindra’s reach.
With the win, APF is at the eighth place with 13 points, while Machhindra is struggling at the 13th place with three points from eight games.