By Sachit Subba • Football • Mar 29, 2025 14:38 PM • 135 views
Kathmandu Rayzrs produced a dramatic second-half comeback to hold defending champions Lalitpur City FC to a 2-2 draw in an electrifying Ncell Nepal Super League (NSL) encounter at the Dasharath Stadium. Lalitpur was in complete control after racing to a 2-0 lead in the first half, but Kathmandu responded with a resilient fightback to secure a crucial point.
Lalitpur Dominates First Half
Lalitpur wasted no time asserting their dominance, breaking the deadlock in just the fifth minute. Foreign recruit Jonathan Kantilana's sharp effort from near the corner flag created chaos inside the box, and in an unfortunate turn for Kathmandu, Kamal Shrestha inadvertently deflected the ball into his net.
The defending champions doubled their advantage in the 15th minute. Imoh Ezekiel's initial strike was parried by Kathmandu goalkeeper Abhishek Baral, but the rebound fell perfectly to Aditya Shakya, who made no mistake with his left-footed finish.
Lalitpur continued to pile on the pressure and nearly added a third in the 25th minute. Ezekiel was in a one-on-one situation with Baral, but his thunderous shot rattled the post, sparing Kathmandu further damage.
Kathmandu's best opportunity of the half came in the 28th minute when Mohammed Buya Toure's diving header off a Vincent Koziello corner was expertly saved by Lalitpur goalkeeper Jeffrey Baltus. The first half ended with Lalitpur firmly in control at 2-0.
Kathmandu's Spirited Fightback
Lalitpur had a golden chance to put the game beyond reach in the 62nd minute when Papa Bau Kebe unleashed a powerful left-footed shot from a Yogesh Gurung assist, but Baral produced a fine save to keep his side in contention.
Desperate to claw their way back, Kathmandu nearly scored two minutes later when Jilespi Jung Karki's header off a Kamal Shrestha cross went agonizingly wide.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 75th minute. Jilespi Jung Karki provided a precise cutback inside the box, setting up Amando Diop, who rifled a stunning strike past Baltus to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The Rangers had a golden opportunity to equalize in the 84th minute, but Jilespi's effort from inside the area sailed over the crossbar, keeping Lalitpur ahead heading into the final moments of regulation time.
Dramatic Equalizer in Injury Time
Just when it seemed Lalitpur would hold on for the win, Kathmandu was awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time after Yogesh Gurung brought down Vincent Koziello inside the box. Koziello stepped up with nerves of steel, slotting home the penalty in the fifth minute of added time to complete the sensational comeback.
The final whistle confirmed a hard-fought 2-2 draw, with both teams settling for a point each. This result marks the first draw between the two sides in their five NSL meetings, with Kathmandu winning three times and Lalitpur once.
What's Next?
The NSL action continues tomorrow as Butwal Lumbini FC faces Jhapa FC in a crucial clash at 6 PM.
In this third edition of the tournament, seven teams—Lalitpur City FC, Kathmandu Rayzrs FC, Pokhara Thunders FC, Butwal Lumbini FC, Dhangadhi FC, Jhapa FC, and Chitwan FC—are battling for the coveted NSL title.
