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 past Kathmandu’s left-back Amit Tamang but his low cross was cleared by Anjan Rai. Amit was at the center of attention a minute later when he cleared Laxmal Ruchal’s swinging corner off the goal line.
Yogesh Gurung cleared Prashant Awasthi’s cross in the 23rd minute. Sudip Shrestha blocked Komiwon’s effort from outside the box a minute later.
Andres Nia failed to head a Komiwon cross on target in the 25th minute. Jhapa put the ball into the back of the net in the 28th minute. Jorge Sanchez was put through on goal by a through-ball from Pradip Lama. His attempt went straight at Kathmandu shotstopper Abhisek Baral who couldn’t catch the ball and Samiraj Thokar put the ball in the net but fouled Baral in the process.
Shokhrukh failed to keep another set-piece on target in the 30th minute. Abhisekh caught a cross from Samiraj with ease in the 35th minute. Nia’s attempt to play Hisub through on goal in the 42nd minute had more power than he’d have liked.
Sanchez failed to deliver once again at the start of the second half. He received a pass from Samiraj at the edge of the box, beat Anjan Rai to unleash a tame shot straight at Abhisek. At the other end, Komiwon’s attempt from outside the box deflected wide in the 51st minute.
Jhapa midfielder Ochilov’s deflected attempt from outside the box brought out a flying save from Abhisekh to parry the ball behind for a corner. Another attempt from the Uzbeki a minute later went wide, again.
Komiwon’s attempt off a pass from Rajiv Lopchan was blocked on the edge of the box in the 66th minute. Kathmandu squandered another big chance in the 76th minute. Ganesh Himal found himself on the edge of the six-yard box on the left-hand side but instead of crossing which seemingly was a better thing to do at that moment, he opted to shoot and shot wide of the near post.
In the 86th minute, Jhapa’s goalkeeper Cupic, thwarted Nkengue Junior with an excellent save. Rajeev Lopchan’s through-pass created a one-on-one opportunity for Junior, but he was thwarted by Cupich who came a few steps ahead of the goal line.
Kathmandu’s second successive draw puts them on five points in three matches. Dhangadhi have seven points so far and are at the top while Lalitpur and Pokhara have five each. Jhapa are eighth on two points.
Lalitpur City FC will take on Birgunj United in Tuesday’s fixture. The match will kick off at 5 PM at the Dasharath Stadium.
