By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – A brace from forward Ashish Lama helped APF Football Club register their first win in the Qatar Airways Martyrs Memorial A Division League on Monday.
The departmental team registered their first win in five attempts by beating Friends Club 3-1 at the Dasharath Stadium. Bikki Tamang was also on the scoresheet for APF while Prizen Tamang scored a consolation goal for Friends Club.
APF’s Japanese goalkeeper Yuya Kuriyama denied Friends Club from taking an early lead when he foiled a one versus one attempt made by Jamal Anthoy Francois in a pass from Prizen Tamang in the fifth minute. Kuriyama once again denied Friends from taking the lead in the 17 minute as he dived to catch a shot from Prizen Tamang.
Despite coming under pressure in the initial period, APF took the lead through a goal from Bikki Tamang in the 30th minute. Navin Lama fed Tamang a ball that deflected off Suraj Bishwakarma of Friends in a shot from Ashish Lama. Tamang’s powerful shot went into the net after hitting the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Ashish Lama doubled the lead when his shot deflected off Suraj Bishwakarma once again and went straight into the net while Friends’ goalkeeper Rahul Ram Chandra Yadav remained helpless to stop the ball.
Lama scored his personal second goal and the third for his team in the 56th minute. An unmarked Lama received a pass from Avash Lamichhane and then beat goalkeeper Yadav easily to score the goal.
Prizen Tamang hit back a goal in the 68th minute to cut the deficit to 3-1. He scored a spot kick after Anthony was fouled by Dipesh Dhimal in the penalty box.
Ashish Lama missed a chance to score a hat-trick in the 71st minute as goalkeeper Yadav blocked his shot in a one versus one situation.
Following the victory, APF have climbed three spots from the bottom of the points table to the 11th position with four points. Although Jawlakhel Youth Club and Chyasal Youth Club also have equal four points, APF are ahead due to goal difference. Friends are in the rock bottom with two points.
Earlier, APF had played a draw against Three Star while they were beaten by BBC, CHyasal and Satdobato. On the other hand, Friends had shared the spoils with Satdobato and Three Star while they faced defeat against Sankata and Manang Marshyangdi Club.
