By a Staff Reporter
December 13: Niraj Basnet scored the decisive goal to help Sankata Club sink Nepal Police Club 1-0 in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League on Monday.
The first-half goal scored by Basnet turned out to be the match decider as no other players were on target during the match held at the Dasharath Stadium, Tripureshwar. Basnet score the goal through a diving header in a corner kick of Laxman Ruchal in the 18th minute. This is the third goal scored by Basnet in the ongoing league. Earlier, Basnet had scored a goal each against Friends Club and Manang Marshyangdi Club. Basnet’s goal was the 50th goal of the current edition of the league. A total of 50 goals have been scored in 27 matches so far. Laxman Ruchal of Sankata was the one to score the first goal of the ongoing league.
Sankata had won a penalty in the second minute of the match but Jordan Jr Oana missed the spot kick. Two minutes later, a header by Fode Fofana in a cross from Jordan Jr went inches wide from the post. Similarly, Sankata missed another chance to take the lead during the tenth minute when a shot from Fofana, who collected the ball from a free kick of Ruchal, was blocked by a police defender. Laxman Ruchal then made an attempt to slot in a rebound ball but Saujan Rai cleared it through a header.
Just before the break, Police created two opportunities to score but their attempts were foiled by Sankata goalkeeper and defenders. Sankata goalkeeper Raja Babu Thapa saved an overhead kick from Suman while Basnet blocked a strike from Santosh Hemrun to deny police from scoring an equalizer.
Although Police displayed an improved performance in the second half, they were not able to find the back of the net. Bharat Shah had got a chance to score in the 85th minute but he failed to finish.
With this victory, unbeaten Sankata have climbed to the fourth position with eight points from four matches. Although Army Club too have equal eight points, they are ahead of Sankata due to goal difference. On the other hand, Police who lost their first match, remain firm on eighth position after four matches. Although Police have equal points to that of Three Star and NRT, they lie below the two clubs due to goal difference.
