Nepal Super League

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...

Sudesh Baniya, Kathmandu It seemed like it was not meant to be for Meghraj KC’s Sporting Ilam De Mechi Football Club in a game that looked to be on the brink of the first half and eventually ended on a thrilling 2-2 draw against Dhangadi Football Club.  The woes started with skipper Bikesh Kuthu getting sidelined minutes before the kick-off, followed by Abdoulaye Ba, who clenched his stomach on the way out in just the fourth minute. The replacements, however, Samit Shrestha on goal and Nabin Lama in the midfield, did not come to haunt Ilam back.  Shrestha was kept busy on goal throughout the first half, with Dhangadi repeatedly trying to play Ahmed Hijazi through. The first of those occasions came in the 13th minute as Ashish Chaudhary threaded a ball in, forcing a save out o...

Subas Humagain, Kathmandu On the eve of the Nepal Super League's second season, Spanish coach Oriol Mohedano Segura promised to produce organized football with Jhapa Football Club. Halfway through the league stage, Jhapa, boosted by two Spanish players and a strong Nepali core, has produced anything but just that. With the team winless in four matches, a tough test awaits the injury-plagued team. Jhapa's crisis is not just limited to the field; they have been facing off-field issues every matchday. The captain of the team, Anjan Bista, is out injured; foreign players' reluctance to play and altercations between officials and players in the dressing room have rocked the team hard. Jhapa was dealt a major blow even before the tournament began when star midfielder Laken Limbu pi...

Sudesh Baniya, Kathmandu In a match fraught with missed opportunities, Jhapa FC and Birgunj United played out a goalless draw, deterring either team climb from the bottom of the table. Oriol Segura’s actions on the touchline did not vary much. The Jhapa FC head coach was demanding more balls through the midfield, even more so after his side were reduced to ten men just before the 75th minute. The game started with Jhapa FC showing an aggressive edge, caught offside four times within the first ten minutes, and had a relatively livelier presence on the opposition half. Despite the pressure, it wasn't until the 11th minute that Jhapa FC made a significant strike, with Samandar Ochilov meeting a grounded corner off Laxman Ruchal, only for the chance to go begging. Ochil...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) - Pokhara Thunders have climbed to the top of the standings with a 1-0 win over Sporting Ilam FC in the ongoing second edition of the Nepal Super League (NSL). Sanjeeb Bista scored the only goal of the match at the start of the second half to guide the Thunders to the top of the table. Pokhara were on the back foot from the very start of the match. Ilam were creating chances from the very start of the match while Pokhara had to wait until the halfway stage of the first half to put the ball into the opposition box in the form of a cross.  Ilam’s Omar Thiom’s long-range effort went wide of the post in the fourth minute of the match. Ilam squandered a big opportunity in the sixth minute. Thiom failed to head home a precisely cros...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) - Jhapa FC and Kathmandu RayZrs have played a goalless draw in today’s encounter of the second edition of the Nepal Super League.  Kathmandu’s Tojidinov Komiwon’s attempt at the far corner from a Prashant Awasthi corner went high of the post in the fifth minute. Shokhrukh’s free kick in the seventh minute also didn’t go on target. Komiwon’s cross in the 11th minute wasn’t convincingly dealt with by Jhapa goalkeeper Stefan Cupic, but his fumble attracted no danger. Hisub Thapaliya, who was stripped of his captaincy for today’s match, couldn't get the desired contact from a cross from Kuldip Karki, today’s skipper, in the 14th minute.  Jhapa’s Samiraj Thokar went for a solo run on the right flank in the 16th minute and went p...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) - Skipper Arik Bista's terrific free-kick in the final minutes of the match has inspired Butwal Lumbini FC to their first win in the second edition of the Nepal Super League.  Arik scored from almost 35 yards out when the teams were level at 1-1 to defeat Sporting Ilam FC to gather all three points from the match. Ilam, who were dominant throughout the match and created more clear chances, had to succumb to a wonderful free-kick from the Nepal international. Ilam conceded early in the second half but equalized later with a missed penalty in between.  Ilam’s squandered a few chances early on in the match. Bharat Khawas’ attempt off a Fode Camara cross in the third minute came off the frame of the goal.  Butwal had their...

By a staff reporter Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) - Jhapa FC have snatched a point with a late equalizer against Pokhara Thunders in today’s first encounter at the Dasharath Stadium. Jhapa, who were 1-0 down in the dying minutes against a 10-man Pokhara, equalized in the eighth minute of stoppage time to come away with a point. Pokhara had led in the match with a Moses Twum header in the first half and were neutralized by a Samandar Ochilov for Jhapa.  Newcomers Jhapa, who had lost their first match with a substandard performance, weren't up to the mark against Pokhara as well. Jhapa failed to capitalize on numerous chances they created in the first half and failed to create clear-cut chances in the second. Pokhara, on the other hand, were resolute at the back and scored on t...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) - FC Chitwan have registered their first win in Nepal Super League (NSL) history. Chitwan, who finished the first edition winless, have registered their first win ever in the third match of the second edition. Chitwa defeated Birgunj United FC 2-1 thanks to goals from their iconic player, Bimal Gharti Magar and midfielder Torric Jebrin. Aikins Baffour scored one for Birgunj.  Chitwan, who were left disappointed in the previous two matches, losing one and drawing one, had upped their performance against Birgunj today. Torric, one of the goalscorers, who hadn’t performed as he’d have liked in the first two matches, also put in a wonderful performance.  Birgunj had the first chance of their match go their way. William Opo...

By a Staff Reporter Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) - Olawale Affez's injury-time goal has guided Dhangadhi FC to a second successive win in the second edition of the Nepal Super League. Dhangadhi, who registered a late win in their first match against Birgunj United FC in the first match, came away with all three points in the second against Butwal Lumbini FC with a stoppage-time winner. Olawale beat the offside trap in the second minute of injury time and received an Ahmed Hizaji pass and guided the ball through Butwal goalkeeper Mohammadou to guide his team to the win. Earlier, both teams wasted plenty of opportunities in the ninety minutes and couldn't find the back of the net. Dhangadhi put pressure on Butwal throughout the first half but Butwal created opportunities in the sec...