KATHMANDU, Dec 5: CMG Club Sankata maintained its sensational return in the top level football with a 2-1 win over Bauddha FC on Wednesday which lifted it to second position in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division Football League being held at the Dasharath Stadium.
In the late match of day, Raj Kumar Ghising netted twice for new boys Iceberg Madhyapur Youth Association in its 3-1 win over Mahindra Bansbari FC which was reduced to 10 men during the first half.
Maintaining its unbeaten run to fourth match, Sankata leapfrogged five spots to second position with eight points while Bansbari is still looking for its first victory lies second from the bottom with one point. Madhyapur progressed to eighth position from 13th with five points on the table. Bauddha hits the bottom of the table without a single point.
Kabbu Rai scores goal for CMG Club Sankata against Bauddha FC. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
Sankata came from a goal down to achieve its second win after conceding in the early fourth minute through Subin Shrestha who was appearing for the first time in the current league. Shrestha cleverly collected a back pass of Manish Ghale to Sankata custodian Ndoe Mbarga Pierre and hit the ball past advancing goalie into an unattended post.
Sankata achieved the equalizer through spotkick taken by its African recruit Linadina Methokozisi following a foul on substitute Bartaman Rai by defender Hem Tamang in the area.
Sankata doubled the tally three minutes into second half through header from Kabbu Rai, making his first appearance in the league. Rai headed in a corner of skipper Salyan Khadgi to ensure the victory.
Scorer Shrestha of Bauddha missed a chance to double the lead in the 9th minute after he hit inches wide from the edge in one-on-one situation with goalie Pierre. In the 87th, Bauddha wasted equalizing chance when Som Thapa fired inches wide from the close range after beating goalie Pierre.
Sankata coach Maheshwar Mulmi commented that his side played under pressure due to lack of experience players in the squad. Mulmi, who also pointed lack of forwards in his side, vowed to come up with a Cameroonian forward in the next match.
Mulmi´s counterpart Kiran Shrestha of Bauddha termed the result as bad luck. "Despite good performance and position we missed several chances," said Shrestha who again repeated that his side will come up with a couple of African players in the next match.
In the day´s kick off match, Bansbari that fielded four African players in the starting line up for the first time, received an early set back after its Namibian midfielder Luck Osangwe Obatta turned to be unlucky. Obatta was sent off in the 37th minute for second bookable offence on Nirajan Rayamajhi.
Bansbari looked under pressure after the departure of Namibian and conceded all three goals in the second half. Forward Raj Kumar Ghising broke the deadlock seven minutes after the interval and doubled tally three minutes later. Ghising directed the ball towards net for the first goal in goalkeeper Ajeet Prajapati´s rebounder off Nirajan Rayamajhi feeble shot.
Ghising unleashed a powerful strike for the second goal from the area that entered net after deflecting on Bannbari custodian Charles Rai´s head. Skipper Jeevan Sinkeman widened the goal difference in the 72nd minute from six yard box after playing a couple of passes with Rayamajhi.
Bansbari coach Hari Om Shrestha commented that the team´s misfortune began after sending off of his African player. "We were dominated even after playing with 10-men."
Pukar Ale Magar scored the consolation in the 85th minute through a freekick taken from the edge. Earlier, Nir Kumar Rai hit inches wide from the edge in 33rd minute while beating advancing Madhyapur goalie.
Madhyapur´s Bal Gopal Sahukhala and Ghising fired off the target during the first half while its African player Aboidun´s powerful strike rebounded off the pole in the second half.
Madhyapur boss Upendra Man Singh said that the match was vital for his side. "We could have been pushed towards relegation if we have lost the match," said Singh adding the players were given two hours motivational class on Tuesday. "They were morally down after loosing to APF in the last match. Despite the endurance and fitness the players lack confident. The win will boost the confidence level of players in the upcoming matches," said Singh who as on previous matches lauded players for their hard effort.
Thursday´s matches MMC Vs Friends Club @ 12:30 NST
Jawalakhel Vs Army @ 14:30 NST
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