Lalitpur City FC has advanced to the second qualifiers of the second season of the Nepal Super League (NSL) following a convincing 3-0 victory over the defending champions, Kathmandu Razors FC.

The match, held at Dasharath Rangshal in Tripureshwar on Tuesday, saw Eamon Ezekiel shine with two goals while Papa Ibo Kebe added another to secure Lalitpur’s triumph over Kathmandu.

Having secured their place in the qualifiers, Lalitpur is now set to face Pokhara Thunders on Thursday. Pokhara, who lost 4-3 in a tiebreaker against Dhangadhi FC in the first qualifiers on Monday, presents the next challenge for Lalitpur. Unfortunately, Kathmandu’s aspirations of defending their title ended with this defeat, ensuring that the NSL will crown a new champion this season.

Match Recap

The match’s narrative unfolded with notable moments, such as Sushil Kumar Yadav’s early attempt for Kathmandu being thwarted by Lalitpur’s defence. Lalitpur also had their chances, with Dinesh Henzan missing an opportunity in the 11th minute.

Lalitpur broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Kebe’s powerful shot, initially saved by Kathmandu’s goalkeeper Anjal Shrestha, found the net through Ezekiel’s follow-up. Kebe later doubled Lalitpur’s lead just before halftime, capitalizing on a defensive mix-up from Kathmandu.

The second half saw Lalitpur extend their lead to three goals, courtesy of Ezekiel’s header from Nikhil Kadam’s set-piece cross. The 62nd minute saw Kathmandu miss a free-kick opportunity, and in the 74th minute, they were reduced to 10 players after captain Anjan Rai received a double yellow card for fouling Kebe.

Revenge for Lalitpur

The victory for Lalitpur not only secured their spot in the next round but also served as payback for their defeat in the second qualifiers of the previous season. In that encounter, Kathmandu had emerged victorious with a 3-0 scoreline, marking Lalitpur’s first-ever win against their rivals in NSL history. This triumph signifies a significant turnaround for Lalitpur, given that Kathmandu had secured 1-0 wins in both encounters during the league stage for two consecutive seasons.