By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Title contenders Manang Marshyangdi Club defeated Friends Club 2-0 in the Qatar Airways Martyrs memorial A Division League on Friday to climb atop the points table.
Manang are ahead of Satdobato Youth Club and Machhindra Football Club, who have a game in hand. Manang are unbeaten in the league and have collected 10 points from four matches. Second-placed Satdobato and third-placed Machhindra both have seven points each.
During Friday’s match held at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar, Manang’s Nigerian forward Olawa Afeez and Dinesh Rajbanshi scored a goal each to ensure the club’s victory.
Earlier, Friends had missed a change to take lead in the eighth minute when a free kick from Nathaniel Jude Gracia was blocked by Saroj Yonjan Lama.
Manang also missed a chance in the 39th minute when a six-yard shot from Afeez was punched away by Friends’ goalkeeper Ram Chandra Yadav.
Olawa Oladipo Afeez gave the lead to Manang with a 41st minute goal. An unmarked Afeez scored a close-range header in a pass from MMC captain Anjan Bista, who had received a long pass from Pujan Uparkoti.
After the break, MMC skipper Anjan Bista attempted to score in a one-versus-one situation but his 54th minute strike landed straight in the hands of Friends goalkeeper Yadav. In the 72nd minute, Yadav took a dive to save a shot from Afeez. A minute later, Rajbanshi doubled Manang’s lead as his header in a cross from Uparkoti landed inside the net.
Friends tried to reduce the deficit but were not successful as a header from Ronnel Anthony Paul went wide in the 77th minute.
Following the defeat, Friends are placed in the 12 position of the 14-team competition with just two points from four matches. Other tailenders NRT and Himalayan Sherpa also have two points each but Friends are ahead due to goal difference.
