Kathmandu. Kathmandu Razors, down to 10 players, defeated Lalitpur City FC after a goal scored in the injury time of the first half, which was decisive. With the win, former champions Kathmandu became the fourth team to reach the playoffs of the second edition of the Nepal Super League (NSL).

Andres Nia scored the decisive goal in Kathmandu’s victory in the final league stage match at the Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwar on Saturday. With the win against Lalitpur, Kathmandu climbed to the third place in the points table by adding 12 points in eight games. Kathmandu will now compete with fourth-placed Lalitpur in the eliminator. Lalitpur, which has already secured a place in the playoffs, finished the first stage by finishing fourth.

With Kathmandu’s win, Jhapa FC was out of the playoff equation. Jhapa, with 10 points, was behind Lalitpur based on goal difference.

In the 20th minute of the match, Amit Tamang of Kathmandu cleared Papa Ibo Kebe’s beautiful cross before it could reach Dinesh Henjon. Similarly, in the 36th minute, the threat of Kathmandu was averted when captain Anant Tamang’s free kick went out.

Two minutes before the scheduled half, Kathmandu was not lucky. Shokhrukh’s free-kick hit the crossbar from about 20 yards away. Earlier, Kathmandu got a set-piece opportunity when Sanish Shrestha fouled Amit.

In injury time, Nia headed the ball into the net from a beautiful cross by the marquee player Hisub.

In the 11th minute of the second half, Lalitpur’s Nikhil Kadam hit King Oliver’s leg and took the direction of the post. However, the deflected ball was saved by Kathmandu goalkeeper Anjal Shrestha. Anjal saved Kebe’s left-footed shot from Ezekiel’s pass.

In the 75th minute of the game, Kathmandu was down to 10 players. After fighting Kadam with his head, referee Prajwal Chhetri showed Amit a straight red card. 

After seven minutes of being reduced to 10 players, Kathmandu averted two consecutive threats. Kathmandu breathed a sigh of relief when Ezekiel’s shot from Sesehang Angdangbe’s free kick went off the post. Within seconds, Kuldeep Karki cleared Ejikil’s cutback without reaching Kebe.

Even after that, Lalitpur could not score a goal after another attack. Kathmandu will compete with Lalitpur in the eliminator on Paush 9th. Before that, in the first qualifier, top-ranked Pokhara Thunders will play against second-ranked Dhangadhi FC on Monday.