By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – The Nepal APF Club has started the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League with a win, defeating the Three Star Club 2-0 at Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu.
The departmental side had their three foreign recruits, Yuya Kuriyama, Adama Doumbia, and Armand Beadoum, on the field while the Patan-based club was missing their key defender, Peter Segun, who missed the match due to a work permit issue.
Also, Three Star had to use their third-choice goalkeeper, Arun Blon, as their foreign goalkeeper, Mohammad Taha, had not arrived yet, and their second-choice goalkeeper, Purna Chemjong, was injured in their semi-final match of the KP Oli Gold Cup, which concluded last week.
Although both teams had opportunities to score, they were unable to do so until the 72nd minute, when Mani Kumar Lama scored a free kick to break the deadlock. Armand Beadoum then doubled APF’s lead in the 87th minute with a shot from outside the box that Three Star’s goalkeeper, Arun Blon, failed to stop.
APF’s coach, Ratna Kaji Maharjan, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance after securing the victory. “I am happy with my boys’ performance. We came for the win, and everything went according to plan,” said Maharjan at the post-match press conference.
