KATHMANDU, JAN 08 -

NIBL Friends Club drubbed Srinath Collection Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) 3-0 while Nepal Police Club (NPC) battled to a 1-0 win over NMB Bank Machhindra FC in the Martyrs Memorial A Division League here on Tuesday.
It was a reality check for RCT who came into the match with a 2-0 upset of one of the title contenders NPC in their previous round match. Nigerians Segun Peter and Ozoani Victor as well as Susan Lama struck for the Lalitpur-based outfits. In the second match, Ramesh Katwal headed in a cross from Parbat Pandey to score the winner for NPC in the 45th minute.
With the days’ results, NPC climbed to six places up to third with six points. Only goal difference separates the leaders Manang Marshyangdi Club from second placed Tribhuvan Army Club, NPC and fourth placed Nepal APF Club. Friends are two points of leaders in a group of four team with fours points each including Machhindra, who remained fifth. RCT lie in the 12th position in the 13-team table despite with just one point. They started the league with three-point penalty imposed by All Nepal Football Association.
RCT coach Madhu Karki blamed the silly goalkeeping blunder cost them the match. “I cannot find the answer but it has been the character of our team that we come up with an excellent game one day and the very next game we play disappointing game,” said Karki. The RCT coach, however, defended his goalkeeper Prem Tamang despite his blunders. “He (Tamang) made several saves in the last match but after conceding the first, he must have lost the confidence,” added Karki.
Friends took the 38th minute lead in an unlikely fashion when Peter’s nicely weighed 45-yard shot looped over the out-of-position RCT custodian Tamang and into the net. Friends came close to doubling their tally late in the first half.  In the 41st minute, Tamang blocked new Nigerian recruit Ajai Martins’ shot and in the rebound attempt from Arjun Subba, Krishna Kunwar cleared the ball from goal line. Sagar Lama then rescued RCT from conceding another goal when he cleared the ball after Tamang fumbled the ball in Martins’ attempt deep into the second half injury time.
Friends doubled their score in the 56th minute thanks again to a silly mistake from RCT goalie Tamang. Instead of collecting a simple head high ball, Tamang somehow fumbled the ball into the net. The 85th minute substitute Victor completed Friends’ rout of RCT by heading home a left wing cross from Buddha Lama.
Friends coach Megh Raj KC believed that the arrival of two other Nigerians — Martins and Lawas Olalekan — have strengthen their squad. “These two players have been training with the squad for a month but we were unable to field them due to the delay in their paperwork,” explained KC adding that his team have realistic chance of making it to the Super League.