By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – Pokhara Thunders have made a winning start to the second edition of the Nepal Super League (NSL). Pokhara upset a strong-looking FC Chitwa 1-0 in the first match of the day to gather all three points from the match. Moses Twum scored the only goal of the match in Pokhara’s win.
Chitwan’s Rafiq Aminu squandered a golden opportunity early on in the match off a Torric Jebrin pass. Stephan Kojo’s header in the ninth minute off Pokhara marquee Ayush Ghalan cross went wide of the post. Ayush Ghalan’s long-range strike in the 14th minute didn’t have enough curl to go into the top corner. Ayush followed up with another long-range effort in the 16th minute that went just wide of the post.
Chitwan goalkeeper and skipper Bishal Shrestha gathered Twum’s shot in the 28th minute with ease. Bishal came off the line to make a brilliant save off Twum’s effort in the 31st minute. Pokhara also squandered a chance off Ayush’s cross in the 43rd minute.
Ayush looked lively in the second half as well. His shot in the 50th minute from inside the box was blocked by Chitwan centre-back Yusuf Mubarak. Chitwa striker Aminu’s header off Afriye Acquah’s cross in the 58th minute went high and wide of the post. Pokhara’s iconic player Dinesh Rajbanshi put the ball in the back of the net in the 60th minute but he was deemed offside.
Pokhara took the lead of the match in the 72nd minute through Twum. Stephan Kojo’s cross from the left-hand side was expertly finished by Twum to beat Bishal Shrestha.
Pokhara’s chance in the 78th minute to double the lead went begging. Joe Aidoo’s long-range effort was tipped over the bar by Bishal. Chitwan’s center-back Marco Ivanovic had a great opportunity to equalise in the 90th minute but his first-time effort off a Torric cross went wide.
Lalitpur City FC and Butwal Lumbini FC will contest the second match of the day kicking off at 5:30 PM.