Thrills, Late Goals, and Stalemates in the National League
KATHMANDU – The National League 2082 continued its intense run today with a triple-header. The day brought everything from high-scoring battles to tactical deadlocks. As the single round-robin stage nears its conclusion, the pressure at the Dasarath Stadium and ANFA Complex was palpable. The matches left fans with plenty to discuss after a day marked by second-half surges and standout individual performances. **Satdobato and Police Share Spoils in Gritty Draw** While goals flew in elsewhere, Satdobato Youth Club and Nepal Police Football Club fought to a 2-2 draw at the ANFA Complex. Satdobato appeared to be cruising after a dominant first period, during which Arun Lama (17') and Fode Fofana (26') put them two goals up. The momentum shifted drastically in the second half. Nepal Police FC, showing remarkable resilience, clawed their way back into the game. Sagar Tamang pulled one back in the 58th minute, and a late surge saw them equalise to split the points. The match was a physical affair, ending with a flurry of yellow cards in the final minutes for Subash Tharu and team officials, reflecting the high stakes of the encounter. Notably, Subash Tharu was recognised as the Player of the Match for his influential role in the Police comeback.  **Laligurans Edge Out Planning Boyz in Five-Goal Thriller** The day's highlight was the high-octane clash between Laligurans Association Club and Planning Boyz United at Dasarath Stadium. Laligurans edged out a 3-2 win in a match that kept the crowd on edge. The first half belonged entirely to Laligurans, who stormed into a 2-0 lead thanks to clinical finishing from Raj Bhusal in the 20th minute and Akoete Junior Donou just four minutes later. However, the Planning Boyz emerged from the break on a different side. Pujan Thapa ignited the comeback in the 57th minute, followed by a Sahil K.C. strike in the 73rd to level the scores. The drama peaked in the 83rd minute when Ashish Gurung, having come off the bench, found the back of the net to restore the lead for Laligurans. Despite a late yellow card for Planning Boyz's Ningma Ghising in stoppage time, Laligurans held firm to take all three points.  **Army Outmanoeuvre Machhindra in Tactical Battle** At the Dasarath Stadium, Tribhuvan Army Football Club (TAFC) displayed veteran composure to beat Machhindra F.C. 2-1. The match was a tale of two halves; the first ended in a 1-1 stalemate after Nawayug Shrestha opened the scoring for the Army in the 40th minute, only for Machhindra’s Jonathan Eduardo Cantillana Zorrilla to equalise just before the whistle. The decisive moment came immediately after the restart when Army captain Gillespye Jung Karki found the net in the 46th minute. Machhindra attempted to shuffle the deck with multiple substitutions, including the introduction of Rewat Ram Bhandari and Saurav Limbu, but the Army defence, bolstered by late tactical swaps, remained impenetrable. Karki’s leadership and goal-scoring heroics earned him the Player of the Match honours.
