Defending champions Kathmandu Rayzrs progressed into the playoffs of the Nepal Super League after they defeated Lalitpur City 1-0 in a highly-charged encounter at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Saturday.
Despite the result, Lalitpur also qualified after ending their group stage in fourth position with 10 points. The win gave ten-man Kathmandu 12 points and a third-place finish.
The outcome also brought Jhapa’s anxious wait to a disappointing end as they dropped to the fifth position on goal difference and exited the tournament.
Still, Lalitpur will rue the missed opportunity after failing to secure a second position and a place in the Qualifier 1. A win would have booked them a clash against table toppers Pokhara Thunders, knocking Kathmandu out of the competition.
Pokhara will now battle against Dhangadhi in the Qualifier 1 on Monday.
Lalitpur will have a chance for redemption when they meet Kathmandu in a rematch in the Eliminator on Tuesday.
The winners of Qualifier 1 will directly qualify for the final, while the losing side will battle against the winners of Eliminator for another spot in the title-match.
Kathmandu were in a do-or-die situation after a 4-1 loss to Birgunj United had left their playoff hopes hanging in the balance but Bal Gopal Maharjan’s side left that embarrassment behind and showed a highly disciplined game against Lalitpur, who were already in control of the table.
Despite failing to shake an organised Lalitpur defence for most of the first half, Kathmandu suddenly came to life when Shokhrukh Makhmudkhozhiev finally managed to terrorise the opponent half in the 43rd minute with a stunning freekick that rattled the crossbar.
Kathmandu kept up that gravity and Uzbeki forward soon attempted a powerful shot four minutes later but Lalitpur captain Ananta Tamang stretched out his legs to block the way.
In the resulting corner, Tojidinov Komijon played a give-and-go with Hishub Thapaliya before crossing into the box and Andres Nia put the ball into the back of the net with a diving header.
Lalitpur were more aggressive after the break but Kathmandu goalkeeper Anjal Shrestha was at his best and worked hard to keep out efforts from Papa Ibou Kebe and Imoh Ezekiel.
Kathmandu were limited to 10 men after their defender Amit Tamang was shown a straight red for needlessly head-butting Lalitpur’s Nikhal Sureshrao Kadam in the 75th minute.
It left Kathmandu vulnerable at the back and Lalitpur bombarded the Kathmandu box in the final minutes looking for an equaliser but Kathmandu held on for a nervy victory.
Kathmandu will also be missing Komijon in their Eliminator game against Lalitpur after he conceded a third yellow of the tournament.
The defeat could have sent Lalitpur packing out of the competition had Birgunj won against Butwal Lumbini earlier in the day.
Birgunj had reignited their playoff hopes after a hat-trick from William Opoku Asideu had helped them thrash Kathmandu but Sanoj Shrestha’s men could continue the momentum against Butwal and suffered a 1-0 defeat instead.
Aside was quiet throughout the game and Butwal’s Chandas Das dashed their hopes scoring the winner in the fourth minute of the stoppage time nutmegging goalkeeper Deep Karki after Arik Bista put him through at goal.
The victory moved Butwal level on 10 points with Lalitpur and Jhapa but they ended up in the sixth position due to goal difference.
16.12°C Kathmandu
