Depleted Manang too strong for Anfa
Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club mustered all their potency and registered a daunting 2-0 victory against under 17 squad of All Nepal Football Association in the pre-quarter final match of the 10th Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament played at Pokhara Stadium on Friday.
Manang, at present are reeling under players deficiency as nine of their athletes were selected for the national squad, who are undergoing training session for the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup 2012.
Yugal Kishore Rai and Shiva Shrestha scored apiece to ensure hard fought win over colts.
Two-time champion Manang had to toil relentlessly in the field due to the unavailability of reliable players who could have helped in getting comfortable win.
In their previous meeting, Manang downed ANFA with the margin of 4-1, however, Manang had to depend wait for the appealing opportunities.
Manang conquered the field from the beginning but failed to send the ball at the back of the net until the half-hour mark. Manang took the driving seat from the spectacular free kick from Yugal Kishore Rai in the 31st minute. The well-crafted kick penetrated through the defensive wall of their opponents and found back of the net, which could not be predicted by helpless goalie Birendra Chand.
They wasted more than half a dozen opportunities to give Anfa some hope of comeback until Shiva Shrestha made sure of the win by scoring from the close range in the 85th minute capitalising weak defending from their competitors.
The lack of dependable strikes were visible as Manang failed to make count of their numerous attempts in different instances. Manang’s coveted strikers, Santosh Shahukhala and Anil Gurung are currently training in the national squad.
Manang coach, Hari Om Shrestha said that his boys struggled against Anfa U-17 team to score more goals. “I am satisfied with the performance from junior boys in my team”, Shrestha said, “I know everything about the opponent team as I have coached them for four years. It helped me to make a game plan against them. Our team is not yet set fully as new players have joined the national team. Anfa U-17 coach, Sunil Shrestha said that he didn’t feel sad to lose 2-0 to Manang.
Shrestha said, “Boys gave their best. They fighted till the last whistle”. We will now go to Simara to take part in Simara Gold Cup”, Shrestha added.
Posted on: 2012-02-04 12:14
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