Sankata and APF play draw

2014-02-16
Sankata Club (SC) twice surrendered the lead in an entertaining 2-2 draw with departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) at Dasarath Stadium on Sunday in A Division League 2070, Super Six Match.
Goals from African recruit Olawale and Barshat Gurung put Sankata ahead, but they were pegged back on each occasion through APF veteran forward Ganesh Lawati and Shyam Nepali.

The first good attempt came from Sankata Club in the very first minute when Rajeev Gurung good cross was blocked by APF defender Shiva Ram Giri. Ganesh Lawati almost scored but he caught offside in the 5th minute. Sankata player Nishan Limbu looked ambitious and his ambitious 25 yard distance shot went little wide from the pole in the 7th minute, Limbu tried his luck again in the 8th minute but his right footed shot was well saved by APF custodian Sabin Regmi. In the 15th minute Jangbu Sherpa of APF used his hand to score the ball as Argentine legend Diego Maradona did it in the 1986 World Cup against England but Jangbu Sherpa received the yellow card for his hand goal. Nabin Lama was able to shot the rebounded ball from 25 yard distance but Sankata custodian Pierre made a good save in the 18th minute. In the 33rd minute African recruit of Sankata Olawale scored a beautiful goal to make 1-0 up. But after scoring the goal, goal scorer was injured and was replaced with Jacob in the 38th minute.

In the second half APF looked aggressive and they leveled the score to punish custodian Pierre for his blunder in the 47th minute when veteran forward Ganesh Lawati utilized a cross from Shyam Nepali. After this goal both teams were busy in midfield battle up to 65th minute. In the 67th minute Barsat Gurung utilized a good pass from Krishna Shakya to stun APF custodian to make 2-1 up. APF almost leveled the score in the 68th minute but Ganesh Lawati’s shot was well tackled by Sankata defender Ibrahim. In the 69th minute Shyam Nepali leveled the score and it was his brilliant finished from the point to make score line 2-2.  In the 74th minute Sankata custodian Pierre saved the Shyam Nepali’s flank, Nepali’s powerful strike in the 77th minute was smartly saved by custodian Pierre. Towards the end of the match, APF Rajendra Rawal missed two golden chances where he was unmarked and the custodian Pierre was beaten. Both the crosses were from Shyam Nepali and Rajendra failed to find the target.  In the remaining time both teams tried to break the deadlock but failed to do so and match ended in 2-2 draw. With this draw both teams shared 1 point each. Sankata Club is in fourth place with 23 points from fourteen matches and they squandered the chance to level the point with defending champion Three Star Club, meanwhile departmental team APF is unchanged in the sixth place with 19 points from fourteen matches and they also squandered the chance to level the point with Machhindra FC.