Sandesh Sigdel, Kathmandu
After two losses to start the campaign, it is apparent that Butwal Lumbini FC have slowly started to find their groove. No points in the first two matches, Butwal are now unbeaten in three with a draw along with two wins, the second of which came against Kathmandy RayZrs on Saturday evening.
Butwal looked to be in rhythm from the very start, with Army man Gillespye Jung Karki looking lively in the left flank. He played a few crosses early on in the match but his creativity was not matched by the movements in the box as well as denied by a strong-looking Kathmandu defensive line who had just conceded one goal in three matches prior to today’s loss.
Kathmandu’s marquee Hisub Thapaliya was more involved in their attacks- something that was not evident in the previous matches. However, the Uzbeki duo of Kathmandu- Shokhrukh and Tojidinov Komiwon were the ones that looked most likely to make things happen for the capital outfit but it was Butwal who put the dagger in Kathmandu’s chest in the 29th minute.
Stephane Binong put the ball into the back of the net in his second attempt in quick succession to hand his side the lead and move to the top of the goalscoring charts with three goals. Kathmandu shot-stopper Abhisek Baral’s failure to deal with a long ball from Saroj Tamang presented Aashish Lama and Gillespye with an opportunity to shoot on goal but they scuffed it towards Binong who initially had his first-time effort from close range cleared by Kuldip Karki before getting lucky with the clearance that struck his foot and kissed the net.
Kathmandu looked lively after the goal as their title-winning coach from last edition, Bal Gopal Maharjan, was on the touchline hurling instructions at his team. Hisub and Nia had the best chances to equalize in the first half but failed to make it happen. Butwal skipper Arik Bista came close to doubling the lead towards the end of the first half, rattling the crossbar with his dead-ball strike in the 45th minute.
The second half started positively for Maharjan’s side, but despite creating chances, failed to make them count. Tojidinov had the first chance of the second half, which saw his curling effort go narrowly wide of the post. Four minutes later, Shokhrukh failed to head home Tojidinov’s cross.
But Butwal pounced on the first real chance they received in the second half, with Arik Bista striking immaculately from outside of the box off a pass from the Player of the Match, Gillespye.
Butwal goalkeeper Mohammadou, who made a howler against their draw against Chitwan, didn’t look convincing today either. Kathmandu were constantly trying to test him on goal but he narrowly escaped another ridicule.
However, his lines were breached towards the end with Rajiv Lopchan breaking his guard from inside the six-yard box in the sixth minute of added time but a little too late for the defending champions to rally the team to get at least a point from the match.
Butwal, with today’s win, climb to third on the table, having played five matches and putting seven points on board. Kathmandu have dropped down to sixth after failing to win after the opening-day win against Ilam. They are on five points from four outings.
The Lakheys, Lalitpur City FC, will take on the Panthers, FC Chitwan, in Sunday’s solitary fixture. This encounter will have the ball rolling at 5 PM at the Dasharath Stadium.
