Three Star beats NRT in charity match

KATHMANDU, Aug 16 - Charity Shield serves as a curtain raiser for a new football season in England but one can only hope that Saturday’s charity match between Nabil Three Star Club and New Road Team (NRT) at the Dasharath Stadium in which NTSC emerged 2-0 victor does work the same in Nepal. The match was organized by UNDP on assistance from the European Commission to raise awareness about natural disasters.

NTSC dominated the proceedings from the start and looked more sharper than its opponent as it had several players who had just returned from international duty with Nepal. Yugal Kishore Rai had the first real attempt of the match for the 2004-5 Martyrs’ Memorial ‘A’ Division champion but sent his header over the bar when goalkeeper Surendra Shrestha came charging out to collect the corner.

Moments later, Nirajan Khadka dodged full back Biraj Maharjan and laid the goal on plate for Yugal who successfully beat the keeper with his chip shot but also missed the goal. NRT too had its fare share of chances in between but most of them were from long range and notable efforts came from Nabin Neupane and Khum Gurung among others.

Bijaya Gurung, who had a fairly impressive AFC Challenge Cup campaign with Nepal, then deservedly put NTSC ahead in the 44th minute after combining well with fellow international colleague Santosh Sahukhala. Sahukhala took a fine pass from Bishan Gauchan then cut it back to an unmarked Bijaya who slotted the ball home with the easiest of tap-ins. NRT almost leveled with the final kick of the half but keeper Kiran Chemjong was up to the task to tip over Nirajan Rayamajhi’s audacious lob from 25 yards.

Binod Dangol replaced Surendra on goal for NRT in the second and the former Manang Marshyangdi man could not have got to any worse start as he was beaten by an incredible Sandeep Rai shot from over 40 yards, just two minutes after the restart. Sandeep saw the keeper off his line and tried his luck from distance and successfully put the Patan side 2-0 up.

However after the second goal, Three Star put on a master class on how to miss chances. Santosh Sahukhala was the main culprit in front of the goal for Three Star as he squandered three glorious chances to increase lead in space of five minutes. His first from barely four yards in front of the goal in the 63rd minute hit the upright and he planted his second shot straight into the keeper’s hand from similar distance and in the third he failed to connect a wonderful square ball from Bijaya. Santosh then could have provided Bijaya his second but over-weighed his through ball when Bijaya was through on goal.

Like in the first half, NRT’s best chance was created out of nothing by veteran striker Nirajan. He might have lost his pace but showed that he still possesses his touch from his glory days as he again produced the best out of keeper Kiran from a very tight angle. Nonetheless the best cheer of the afternoon came when striker Surendra Tamang, who once made waves in Nepali domestic football, returned to the field after almost a year out with injury.