Friends’ Club beat Galaxian for 3rd place

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KATHMANDU, Jan 21: Friends’ Club came from behind to claim the third position of the Birendra Memorial Invitational football tournament defeating Galaxian Club 3-1 on Monday.

The match however participated by least numbers of crowd, remained evenly balanced. Galaxians’ youngsters put on tremendous pressure over Friends Club but Nirajan Rayamajhi’s scored in the 85th minute taking the match away from Galaxian grip.

The promising Galaxian opened their account in the 16th minute of the match to go for 1-0. Friends’ Club goalkeeper and Nepali international Upendra Man Singh failed to read a Bikash Subba leftfooter, which sailed into the net, creating a huge cheer among Galaxian fans.

But the lead remained transitory as Kailash Dangol leveled the score at 1-1 within just two minutes. Dangol, after receiving a well-measured cross off Robin Byanjankar at right flank, unleashed a powerful right footer to home a well deserve tie to Friends’ Club.

Both the team were in search of lead but remained bare handed till the half time. The match was evenly poised in the half time with 1-1.

Galaxian troop accelerated their attacks after the break but left loopholes in their territory. And using the opportunity maximum, Nirajan Rayamajhi add one more to his total tally of seven. Rayamajhi, through a classic rightfooter in the 85th minute, left agile goalie Ritesh Thapa at his toe as the ball went inside the net leaving Thapa as a mere spectator.

Rayamajhi is still the leader in the top-scoring list with eight goals to his name. And his close contestant Hari Khadka and Rajan Rayamajhi, who have still a match to play, each scored four goals in two matches. This means, Rayamajhi is virtually the topscorer of the tournament.

The match’s hero was undoubtedly Friends Club keeper Singh, who stopped a couple of breath-taking shots under the bar. In the 17th minute in to the second half, diving Singh punched back Bikash Subba’s mighty fire to prevent the causality. Likewise, he also demonstrated a superb left side dive to gather a Ritesh Khadka beautiful placement in the 70th minute.

In the 88th minute, Ganesh Lawati, who substituted Kailash Dangol in the 72nd minute found the net to seal a cruising 3-1 third place play-off victory. Lawati just pushed the ball inside the net when keeper Thapa failed to collect Rayamajhi’s attempt cleanly.

In the girls’ football match staged prior to the play-off match at the Dashrath Stadium, Bansbari Football Club demolished Bhaktapur Football Team 4-0.

Yeti Airlines lift title

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CHITWAN, Jan 21L: Yeti Airlines won the Lions’ Cricket Tournament title with a 79-run victory over Youth Cricket Club (YCC), Biratnagar in the final played at local Campachaur on Monday.

After deciding to bat, Yeti Airlines posted a moderate 209 target in their 39.1 overs innings. Sandeep Shrestha scored a brilliant half-century (55) while he received a nice support from Birendra Shah, who chipped in 31 useful runs. Likewise, Manish Shrestha and Dipendra Chaudhary also scored useful 24 and 20 respectively.

From YCC, Santosh Rathi and Amir Akthar clinched two wickets each while Mehboob Alam, Paras Luniya and Rajkumar Pradhan shared one wicket apiece.

Chasing the target, Biratnagar boys could only manage130 runs in 31.5 overs. Yunil Shrestha and Sadav Akthar were the batsmen to stand firm against the precise Yeti Airlines bowling. Shrestha scored 35 while Akthar made 34 runs.

Sandeep Shrestha was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets. Raju Basnet also claimed three wickets for the Airliners. Sandeep Shrestha was declared man of the match and also bagged man of the series award. Likewise, Nabin Piya of the local team received the best fielder award while Dipendra Chaudhary was awarded by best batsman. Santosh Rathi of Biratnagar was adjudged best bowler of the tournament. The Minister for the Ministry for Women and Social Welfare Rajendra Kharel handed over the trophy and certificates to the winner and runner-up team.

MPC set to overcome ghost from the past

By Purushottam Kattel

KATHMANDU, Jan 21: When Mahendra Police Club (MPC) takes on Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC), both premier division football clubs of the country, in the title match of the Birendra Memorial Invitational football tournament on Tuesday, all the football fans would be wondering: Will MPC win its maiden title?

The tournament, though played under a new name, was previously played as the Birthday Cup, held each year to commemorate the birthday of late King Birendra.

MPC, in the 30 years’ history of the Cup, besides few titles in the beginning, remained bare handed almost in last 20 years. The MPC players might not have forgotten the 6-1 humiliation they had to suffer at the hands of MMC in the final match of the tournament in 2000. MMC, three consecutive titles in the 1997, 1998 and 2000, would be looking to add yet another.

"This time we will break the jinx," says MPC coach Yugambar Suwal with confidence on his boys. "Unlike in past tournaments where some of our good performers could not participate, we are a full-fledged team this time and our boys are performing very well," added Suwal.

Suwal’s confidence comes out of his boys’ performance in the tournament. MPC has conceded just a single goal in the championship, that too in the semi-final against the Galaxian Club.

It is not going to be easy for the MMC strikers to mutilate MPC defence marshaled by veteran duo Dev Narayan Chaudhary and Anil Adhikari - both national players.

Similar is the case of MMC, which boasts of a sound defence wall, with only two goals against them in two appearances. The poor form of goalkeeper Binod Dangol, however, could be the cause to worry. All this while MPC goalie Sanjeev Joshi is having a marvelous time under the bar.

Although comparatively weaker in defense, MMC are right on target in their front line. With Basanta Thapa and Rajan Rayamajhi, they have shown a good combination up front. Rayamajhi has already scored four goals in a match against New Road Team (NRT). Also ready to inflict injuries to the opposition are Kumar Thapa and Deepak Lama in the flanks.

"Friends Club were not a bad side, but we outplayed them," said MMC coach Birat Jung Shah. "We will play an attacking football against MPC in the final and we know how to tackle them," he added.

On the other hand, Police team have in-form striker in Hari Khadka at the front line, who is likely to be their major weapon in the Tuesday clash. Khadka has scored four goals in two previous matches. Ramesh Budathoki of MPC also displayed good game against Galaxian Club in the semi-final and the team would be hopeful that the striker will repeat the performance in the final.

Both the captains exude confidence when asked of the outcome of the final. Anil Adhikari, MPC captain, says, "They are the competitive team but we are better than them in every aspect of the game. You should go to the field with positive frame of mind."

His counterpart, Kumar Thapa of MMC has same thing to say for his team. "The final match would be a tough fight but I am confident that we will repeat history once more."

Probable line-up for the final

MPC: Anil Adhikari (captain), Sanjeev Joshi (goalkeeper), Rajendra Shrestha, Rakesh Shrestha, Dev Narayan Chaudhary, Narottam Goutam, Raju Katuwal, Ananta Thapa, Raju Pulami, Ramesh Budathoki and Hari Khadka.

MMC: Kumar Thapa (captain), Binod Dangol (goalkeeper), Prakash Dewan, Rajendra Tamang, Ujan Shrestha, Anil Subba, Rajesh Khadgi, Deepak Lama, Nabin Neupane, Basanta Thapa and Rajan Rayamajhi.