Machhindra Club in title race

2014-02-23
The leading goal scorer of the A Division League 2070 BS, Karna Limbu struck on the 77th minute to down departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) and maintain giant killer Machhindra Football Club (MFC)’s unbeaten run in Super Six League of A Division League. The giant killer, who beat defending champion Three Star Club, league leader Manang Marshaygdi Club and Nepal Police Club in previous matches, however labored hard to beat APF by a solitary goal.

Forward Karna Limbu struck on the 77th minute after a poor defense line of opponent. It was the departmental team who started brightest, with APF Nabin Lama kicked the free kick out of target in the 4th minute. APF squandered the good chance in the 6th minute when Shyam Nepali beat Rajin Dhimal of MFC but formal crossed went inch above the bar. Both teams were busy in midfield battle up to 15th minute. In the 18th minute, APF player Jangbu Sherpa was on target but his well targeted shot was well punched by custodian Dinesh Thapa. The first good attempt from Machhindra came in the 22nd minute when Ajay BK’s corner kick was well punched by APF custodian Amrit Choudhary and Sushil KC tried his luck with a long ranger but KC’s shot went wide from the pole, custodian Choudhary denied Dilen Loktam shot in the 24th minute. In the 35th minute veteran APF forward Ganesh Lawati took a superb free kick but his shot went little wide from the pole. MFC also missed a golden chance to take a lead in the 37th minute, Rajin Dhimal collected Ajay BK quick pass but Dhimal’s powerful strike went out of target. Despite Machhindra’s poor start, they almost took a lead in the 50th minute but failed to capitalize it. MFC played aggressive game in the second half and tried to give immense pressure to APF but Karna Limbu, Bishal Rai and Ajay BK failed to capitalize in the 50th minute, 55th minute and 62nd minute respectively. Finally MFC broke the deadlock of APF in the 77th minute; Karna Limbu scored his 10th goal of the tournament with the fine strike to punish APF defender. After conceding the silly goal, APF tried to level the score, but they failed to capitalize the chances in the 82nd minute, when Ganesh Lawati found free header but went inch wide from the pole before Jangbu Sherpa failed to score in a rebounded ball in the 86th minute. Sherpa was again on target but his powerful 30 yard distance shot was hardly saved by MFC custodian Dinesh Thapa in the 88th minute. In the remaining time, both teams failed to break the deadlock of each other and match ended in favor of MFC. This is the four straight win for Machhindra Club and they are in the second place with 31 points from sixteen matches, a point behind league leader Manang Marshyagdi Club (MMC), however league leader have a match in hand. This win gives immense pressure to MMC, who still have two matches to play with Nepal Police Club and Three Star Club. Meanwhile, APF is in 6th place with 19 points from equal matches.