Kathmandu: Nepal’s A Division League champions Machhindra Football Club have been eliminated from the preliminary round of the AFC Cup 2022.
Aiming for a place in the group stage, Machhindra lost 2-1 at home to Sri Lankan Super League champions Blue Star Sporting Club on Tuesday.
Mohamed Ishan and Senal Sandesh scored the winning goals for the visiting team at Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar. Blue Star scored both goals within the first half hour.
Captain Sujal Shrestha scored for Machhindra at the end of the second half but it was too late. Machhindra could not score even though he was with the home field and the spectators.
Goalkeeper Vishal Shrestha of Machhindra saved the penalty in the game.
In front of the home crowd on the home field, Machhindra kept the ball possession for the first ten minutes but could not score.
Blue Star’s penalty in the first half was saved by Machhindra goalkeeper Vishal Shrestha. Nurlan Novrujov missed the chance to score in the ninth minute of the game. He hit the post from the penalty box.
Blue Star got a penalty in the 15th minute. But Vishal Shrestha of Machhindra saved the penalty kick of Areped Ombebe.
Iraqi referee Youssef Saeed Hassan awarded a penalty after Devendra Tamang fouled Senal Sandesh.
In the 18th minute, Machhindra captain Sujal Shrestha’s header came out from near the post. Mohamed Ishaan scored in the 24th minute to give Sri Lankan club Blue Star the lead.
Senal Sandesh doubled Blue Star’s lead in the 28th minute. Machhindra returned a goal in the second half but could not reverse the result. Machhindra was constantly trying to get back in the game.
