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 the first clear chance they got in the match.
Pokhara midfielder Suraj Jeu Thakur’s cross in the seventh minute was easily gathered by Jhapa goalkeeper Stefan Cupic. Jhapa left-back Sumit Shrestha’s through ball for striker Jorge Sanchez was swept by Pokhara goalkeeper Yves Priso.
Jhapa midfielder Fernando Torres’ hit from outside the box in the 10th minute was gathered by Priso with ease. Jhapa missed a huge opportunity to score in the 11th minute. Pradip Lama met an Awas Lamichhane through ball and looked clear on goal but he chose to square it to Laxman Ruchal instead of taking a shot but Ruchal failed to get to the end of the cross.
Laxman Ruchal failed to convert an Anjan Bista cross in the 12th minute. Priso had let the ball go anticipating the ball going out but Ruchal lurked at the far post but failed to guide the ball towards the goal. Pradip Lama’s strike from outside the box a minute later was easily caught by Priso.
Jhapa were creating chances at one end and Pokhara converted their first clear chance of the game to take the lead in the 19th minute. Moses Twum headed home a Joe Aidoo cross clinically past Cupic to give his side the lead.
Samandar Uchilov’s free-kick for Jhapa in the 23rd minute failed to go past the wall. Torres’ effort from outside the box a minute later couldn’t give Priso much of a problem. Priso spilled a Bishal Basnet cross in the 36th minute but Dinesh Rajbanshi cleared the ball away before any danger came their way.
Jhapa had a penalty appeal denied in the 38th minute. Laxman Ruchal’s attempt on an Anjan Bista cross from the left seemed to strike Anjal Maharjan’s hand but the referee wasn’t convinced. Instead, he showed a yellow card to Ruchal for descent.
Pokhara failed to double the lead towards the end of the half. A clearance by Priso went towards the box and Cupic came to the edge of the box to punch it away. But his punch went straight to Stephan Annor but his lobbed effort bounced and hit the frame of the goal.
The second half was not as eventful as the first and not many chances fell both team’s way. Pradip Lama couldn’t keep his long-range effort in the 49th minute on the frame of the goal. There was a head injury concern for Anjan Bista in the 56th minute. He had a collision when attempting to head a Pradip Lama cross towards the goal and fell on the ground. But he continued and was substituted a few minutes later.
Jorge Sanchez tried to catch Priso off-guard in the 62nd minute from distance but he couldn’t hit the frame of the goal. Sumit Shrestha’s cross in the 81st minute was cleared by Franklin Talla. An Awas Lamichhane through-ball in the 85th minute couldn’t find Sanchez.
Pokhara were restricted to ten men in the 89th minute after Kamal Bahadur Thapa was sent off for a reckless challenge due to which they had to play the final minutes with ten men. And in the dying minutes, they conceded and had to settle for just a point.
In the eighth minute of added time, Ochilov tapped in on a rebound of an Awas Lamichhane shot parried away by Priso to hand his side their first-ever point in NSL.
Pokhara have climbed to second on the table with five points from three matches. Jhapa, on the other hand, have just one point from two matches.
