Analysis of First round of Martyrs league

Which Club will win the league? My predictions after the first round of games of Martyrs League.

By: Dinesh Thapa @ Dasarath Rangasala
football_nepal@yahoo.com

It was great experience for me to witness the first round of EVEREST Martyrs League 2061 at Dasarath Rangasala. Despite of poor management, the league definitely is the talking point of Kathmandu at the moment. I’ll touch (write) later on my predictions, but let me first touch on the match analysis of each match of the first round of the league.

Match no 1: Manang Marshyangdi Club Vs Mahabir Club.
Opening match of the Martyrs League between the defending champions and the runners up of the last years B Division League Mahabir Club was certainly the entertaining opening game. Despite the injury hit MMC, they win the match 2 – 1 but Mahabir did give them the hard time. It was scoreless until the halftime. Most of the players of MMC are injured prior to the game including the national team striker Basanta Thapa was also unfit for the game. But Basanta Thapa came out as second half substitute to score two goals to give the defending champions hope to defend title this year. But Gudia Rai scored last minute free kick for Mahabir to get one back. But the game was competitive.

Score: MMC 2:1 Mahabir
Scorers: Basanta Thapa (2) Gudia Rai (1)
Possession: MMC (55%) Mahabir (45%)
Man of the Match: Basanta Thapa (MMC)  

Match No 2: Mahendra police Club Vs Brigade Boys Club
Last year’s runners up MPC and B division winners BBC in the second match. Everybody expected a close match but it turned out to be the one sided game. MPC custodian Ritesh Thapa hardly touch ball in the match. So it was a relatively easy match for MPC as not like expected.

Score: MPC 5 : 0 BBC
Scorers: Ananta Thapa, Ramesh Budhahoki, Raju Katwal, Prabat Pandey, Jumanu Rai
Possession: MPC (75%) BBC (25%)
Man of the match: Hari Khadka (MPC)

Match No 3: New Road Team Vs Kathmandu Club
Kathmandu club which have history of killing top team on the opening match cannot repeat the history this time. It was scoreless until half time. Despite taking an early lead just after the re-start through Rupesh Dhaubanjar, kathmandu club cannot hold the strike force of NRT. So it was competitive game but unexpectedly kathmandu club gave NRT a hard time for their three point.

Score: NRT 3 : 1 Kathmandu Club
Scorers: Rupesh Dhaubanjar (KC) Kalyan Khadgi , Binod Lama, Ritesh Khadka (NRT)
Possession: KC (45%) NRT (55%)
Man of the Match: Kalyan Khadgi (NRT)

Match No 4: Three Star Club Vs Tribhuwan Army Club
The most competitive match of this years league. Army team fielded relatively new side with all new faces but with full stamina and team work. Three star fielded some good international players like Santosh Sahukhel, Ramesh Sinkeman, Bijay Gurung, Pradeep Dongol. Three Star is the team of mixture of youth and experience players. The most experience player in league in Nepal Upendra Man singh is the custodian of TSC. The match was very competitive and played in full pace. The turning point of the match was the mistake by TAC custodian Chanu Ram Chaudhary. The Army Skipper and Custodian Chanu Ram Chaudhary cannot hold the long ranger shot from Surendra Tamang and Bijay Gurung was one the right place for slot the ball on empty net.

Score: TSC 1 : 0 TAC
Scorer: Bijay Gurung
Possession: TSC (55%) TAC (45%)
Man of the Match: Surendra Tamang (TSC)

Match No 5: Friends Club Vs Boys Union Club
As expected the FC defeated BUC. It was also competitive game with lots of miss chances. FC was far better side than BUC. Ramesh Byanjankar scored free kick to give FC a deserved lead while Utsav KC of Boys Union scored on 37^th minute to level the gave. Birat Thapa gave FC lead on 40^th minute. And FC have the last word as Ramesh scored penalty after Sachindra handled the ball on the d box.

Score: FC 3 – 1 BUC
Scorers: Utsav KC (BUC) Ramesh Byanjankar, FC (2), Birat Thapa, FC (1)
Match No 6: RCT Vs Sankata Club
Man of the Match: Ramesh Byanjankar (FC)

Match No 6: RCT Vs Sankata Club
Most boring match of the league this year. Both teams lack spirit and game plan. Ball was mostly on the centre of the pitch. There was hardly a better move by the players. Sankata was hit by injury problems. But both teams lack depth in squad also. Totally a boring game. 

Score: RCT 0 : 0 SC
Possession: RCT (50%) SC (50%)
Man of the match: Nobody perform to the level

Match No 7: Jawlakhel Youth Club Vs Mahabir Club
Finally the “B” division club performed to the expected level. The Multi Million rupees side of JYC did not perform well against the “A” division minnows. JYC went a goal down in 6^th minute. It was a superb cross from the right side by Sudip Limbu which was very hot to handle to Bikash Malla. On second half JYC equalized through Gaurav Thapa from the cross from Manoj Thapa.

Score: JYC 1 – 1 Mahabir
Possession: Mahabir (60%) JYC (40%)
Scorers: Prakash Karki (Mahabir) Gaurav Thapa (JYC)
Man of the Match: Sudip Thapa (Mahabir)

WHO WILL WIN THE LEAGUE? 
On my predictions after the first round of the league, will be Three Star Club or Mahendra Police Club to lift this year’s Martyrs League. As Three Star has the depth in squad, they are clearly the hot favorite for the league. Even national midfielder Bal Gopal Maharjan was on the substitute. This shows how depth is the Three start club has. MPC certainly have the better players and they have good team combination and high team spirit to break down any team in league. 

My predications:
Winner: Three Star Club or Mahendra Police Club
Top Six: Three Star, Mahendra Police, Manang Marshyangdi, Tribhuwan Army, Friends Club and NRT
Relegation Favorite: Kathmandu Club, Brigade Boys, Boys Union

By: Dinesh Thapa @ Dasarath Rangasala
football_nepal@yahoo.com