scores a brace as MMC ease to 3-0 win over APF
KATHMANDU, JAN 03 -
Laxmi Bank Three Star Club opened the title defence of the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League with a comfortable 3-1 win over newly promoted Boys Union Club (BUC) here at the Dashrath Stadium on Thursday.
In another match, Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) hammered Nepal APF Club 3-0 for their second successive win. MMC stay top of the table with perfect six points from two games.
In the first game, Santosh Sahukhala, Bijay Gurung and Jagjit Shrestha scored for Three Star while Kamal Shrestha pulled one back for BUC. Forward Sahukhala headed home from close following a Bijay Gurung cross in the 44th minute to put Three Star ahead. Earlier BUC custodian Raju Yogi made a wonderful save to deny a powerful 20-yard Nirajan Khadka shot in the 25th minute.
Three Star doubled their lead in the 59th minute when the provider turned scorer. Gurung was in hand to score from close when ABA Norbert Cerdrice made a poor clearance of the Jagjit Shrestha’s pass inside the area. Jagjit himself added the third, capitalising on a cross from Prakash Budhathoki in the 84th minute. BUC pulled one back thanks to poor Three Star marking. Kamal Shrestha struck when he was left unmarked at far post to connect a left-wing cross from Akeem Babatunde.
“To record win in the first match is always sweet,” said Three Star coach Anjan KC. “A good start to the league will always help players gain confidence,” added KC. Despite the back to back defeats, BUC coach Bijay Maharjan was still confident of making it to the Super League stages.
In the second match, Deepak Rai scored twice and Yona Elias added another as MMC crushed APF. Rai provided MMC the 41st minute lead as the forward scored in solo effort.
It took another 24 minutes for MMC to double their tally when substitute Elias, who had barely taken to the field in place of Ani Gurung two minutes earlier, scored after a freekick from Sujal Shrestha. And a minute later Rai added his second and the team’s third goal.
APC coach Janak Singh Tharu said they paid the price for their weakened defense. MMC coach Hari Om Shrestha said: “It took us a bit longer to open the scoring but we were never in pressure.”
