By Sachit Subba • Football • Apr 05, 2025 11:24 AM • 70 views
Pokhara Thunders finally roared to life in the Nepal Super League, notching their first win of the season with a convincing 2-0 triumph over Kathmandu Rayzrs on Saturday. Goals from Stephen Samir Binong and Sudil Rai sealed the deal at the Dasharath Stadium, lifting Pokhara to fourth in the standings.
It was a performance that combined grit and flair and, more importantly, signalled Pokhara's arrival in this year’s title race.
Binong opened the scoring in the 25th minute, rising above the Kathmandu backline to nod home a precise cross from Saiddoston Jafarov. The early lead was nearly doubled just 13 minutes later, but Binong's penalty was brilliantly denied by Rayzrs keeper Abhishek Baral—who had already kept his side in the game with a sharp stop on Samir Tamang in the 21st minute.
The penalty came after Kathmandu skipper Kuldeep Karki brought down the lively Binong inside the area, symbolising the Rayzrs' disjointed evening.
Pokhara, however, weren't to be denied for long. In the 58th minute, Sudil Rai made it 2-0, steering home a clinical header off Ayush Ghalan's pinpoint delivery, leaving Baral stranded and the Rayzrs reeling.
Kathmandu entered the game unbeaten and came agonisingly close to pulling one back in the 85th minute. Dinesh Henjan floated in a ball that found Mohammed Buya Toure, but his powerful header clattered off the crossbar. Just moments before the final whistle, Jellespi Jung Karki suffered a similar fate—his shot cannoned off the woodwork, summing up Kathmandu's luckless night.
With the win, Pokhara moves to three points from as many matches, climbing to fourth. Kathmandu drops to sixth with two points, still searching for their first win.
For Pokhara, it's a vital breakthrough. For Kathmandu, questions are starting to pile up.
