KATHMANDU, MAR 11 - Santosh Sahukhala’s last gasp goal earned Nabil Three Star Club (NTSC) a 1-1 draw against Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC), while leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) were held to a goalless draw by bottom placed Boys Union Club in Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel ‘A’ Division League at the Dashrath Stadium on Wednesday.

Sahukhala rescued fallen giants NTSC from the jaws of their third straight defeat scoring on the 89th minute from close range. TAC, clearly the better side in the first 45 minutes, took the lead at the hour’s mark through Hari Mahato after threatening NTSC keeper Kiran Chemjong several times earlier in the game. The result did little to help NTSC’s position in the league table, where they are stuck at eighth with five points, while TAC on seven are a point below NIB Friends. MMC are still in the lead with 13 points, while Boys Union, on four points, sent Sankata at the bottom of the table.

NTSC opted for a different approach, sending Sahukhala alone upfront instead of the two strikers they usually play. Sahukhala’s usual partner Surendra Tamang was playing right wing and Pradeep Maharjan as usual played in the midfield but with an added responsibility: to aide Sahukahala in the attack.

Everything looked on track for NTSC until the opening 20 minutes with their first shot on target coming on the 13th minute from Anjan K.C’s curling free kick that hit the crossbar but as the match progressed NTSC looked ineffective in the centre of the park. Bikarna Shrestha almost punished them for their dip in form six minute after the restart when his point blank header landed tamely into the keeper’s hand. But Hari Mahato made sure he beat keeper Chemjong unleashing a powerful shot from almost a similar range from substitute Hiranya Magar’s cross.

Jocelyn Morgan Pierce almost brought the game back in level terms firing a powerful volley but TAC keeper Bikash Malla was up to the task, making an excellent save. Sahukhala, who had been cautioned by the referee for his unsporting behaviour against Ram Kumar Biswash earlier in the game, silenced his critics with an equaliser that came after the TAC back four failed to clear the ball inside the penalty box.

In the early match of the day, rejuvenated Boys Union knocked the sails out of leader MMC’s ship with goalbound moves several times in the first half as compared to MMC’s single attempt. Sanjiv Tamang, Raju Rai and Shuvam Shrestha were all on target for Boys Union in the first half but it was MMC which had the best chance of the half. Korean Lee Jihon should have done better when he was put clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat by Ganesh Khadka but the Korean fired his shot wide off the mark.

Posted on: 2010-03-11 09:02

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