Kathmandu: Manang Marshyangdi Club makes a winning start at the ongoing Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League, Nepal’s premier football league, defeating Jawalakhel Youth Club on Sunday.
Manang Marshyangdi, the Pokhara-based outfit which is the most successful in the league having secured eight titles so far, edged over Jawalakhel through the sole goal that came at the 57th minute of the game held at Dashrath Rangashala in Tripureshwor, Kathmandu.
Dinesh Ranjbanshi headed the ball home with an assist by Dayananda Elangbma. Rajbanshi was announced the man of the match.
Although the first half of the game ended goalless, there were a few notable chances created on both ends of the pitch.
Oluwawunmi Somide of MMC headed the ball home in the 30th minute, only to be ruled offside later.
In the 45th minute, JYC’s Onuga Junior hit a woodwork through a corner kick from Suraj Thakuri. Onuga’s header deflected off the upper bar of the frame, sending a hush through the crowd.
The second half was also a story of missed chances. As soon as the clock ticked off post interval, MMC skipper Anjan Bista failed to convert a header from inside the penalty box. JYC, too, created some chances and kept on building the pressure against the strong opponent but failed to convert any.
“Both the teams performed well and both created remarkable chances,” JYC coach Kishor Kumar KC said at the post-match conference. “A mistake by our goalkeeper in the second half cost us dearly.”
“We had a problem with our finishing,” KC admitted.
Rajendra Tamang, coach for MMC, said that he took the match easy.
“As a coach I didn’t have any pressure for today’s match because we are comparatively strong and a bigger club relatively,” Tamang said.
“We failed to maintain our position in some sections of the game but, despite that, managed to win the game.”
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