MMC, Army share points

Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) and Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) shared points after playing a competitive 1-1 draw in their Martyrs Memorial Red Bull ‘A’ Division League match here at the Dasharath Stadium on Thursday.

An own goal from Cameroonian defender Leonel Stephen gave Armymen the fourth minute lead but Deepak Rai scored an equaliser for MMC in the 73rd minute. The result saw MMC maintain their lead atop the league standings with 13 points, one ahead of Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club while TAC are fifth with eight points.

TAC were gifted the lead in the fourth minute when Stephen inadvertently put the ball into his own net in his attempt to clear Bharat Khawas’s driven cross inside six yards. “Our defence lacked alertness in the early stages of the game,” said MMC coach Hari Om Shrestha.

MMC then pressed forward to get back into the game and came close to equalising when Nabin Neupane’s swirling 18-yard effort rattled the post in the 32nd minute. Neupane again created a sublime pass when his cross found an unmarked Yona Elias inside the area, but the forward only managed to head the ball wide of the goal in the 59th minute. 

Bikram Limbu’s cross again found Elias inside the box, but his header was brilliantly saved by TAC goalie in the 65th minute. Navayug Shrestha then came agonisingly close to doubling TAC’s lead when his goal-bound effort was cleared from the line by Rupesh KC. 

MMC found the equaliser in the 73rd minute as second half substitute Rai capitalised on defender Hiranya Magar’s poor attempt to clear Saheed Azeez’s cross. It was Rai’s fourth goal of the campaign.

“Our substitutes made an impact in the game and we had plenty of chances to win it,” said MMC coach Shrestha. TAC coach Yogamber Suwal rued on the missed chances. 

Earlier, NMB Bank Machhindra FC (MFC) beat Boys Union Club (BUC) 3-1 to hand the struggler their fifth defeat in six matches. Christopher Essomba’s individual goal put MFC in the lead after sprinted clear of the BUC defence and unleashing a powerful strike from the edge. 

Bishal Rai then chipped the ball over the advancing BUC goalie Raju Yogi to make the score 2-0. Ashim Jung Karki scored from the penalty spot to give BUC hopes of a comeback but Aboubacar Bangoura scored the third in the 67th minute. 

MFC are in eight position with seven points while BUC remain just above the bottom placed RCT with three points.