By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – Pokhara Thunders and Lalitpur City FC have played the first goalless draw of the second edition of the Nepal Super League. The sides, who were looking for their second wins of this edition, ended the match with no goals.
Lalitpur, who were, for many, the best-performing team in the first round of matches, couldn’t repeat anything similar against Pokhara, who had more of the ball throughout the match. Lalitpur were struck with a blow as their striker Papa Kebe and defender Sanish Shrestha had to be taken off due to an apparent injury early in the match.
Pokhara’s Stephan Annor’s cross in the fifth minute was headed clear by Omolaja Kareem. Pokhara struck the upright in the next minute. Franklin Talla’s long-ball was met by Moses Twum inside the box and his attempt across the post came off the woodwork. Pokhara’s Dipesh Ale Magar’s hit from outside the box was easily gathered by Jeffrey Baltus in the seventh minute.
Lalitpur winger Imoh Ezekiel rounded off the Pokhara goalkeeper Yves Priso but his shot on a goalkeeper-less goal was guarded by two Pokhara defenders. Nikhil Kadam who came on for Bebe in the 19th minute played a brilliant cross in the 25th minute which was headed into the hands of Priso by lalitput skipper Ananta Tamang before he was flagged offside. Nikhil’s cross in the next minute wasn’t met by Ezekiel and Dinesh Henjan inside the box.
Kareem’s free-kick in the 38th minute went high above the crossbar. Ezekiel failed to tap-in a Nikhil cross again just two minutes later. Moses failed to keep his header off a Ayush Ghalan cross on target in the 43rd minute. Ezekiel was through on goal in the 56th minute only to be stopped in his way by a Dinesh Rajbanshi intervention.
Ayush Ghalan’s curling effort in the 63rd minute failed to on target in the 63rd minute. Dinesh Rajbanshi’s set-piece opportunity in the 74th minute flew over the bar. Ayush’s weak-footed attempt in the 79th minute from inside the box ended up in Baltus’s arms. Sanjeeb Bista’s long-range effort late in the stoppage time was cleared over the bar by Kareem, bringing an end to an eventful game.
Both teams are now on four points each in two matches played. Dhangadhi FC and Butwal Lumbini FC will take on each other in Thursday’s fixture.
