Kathmandu Rayzrs F.C. made an impressive comeback to draw 2-2 against defending champions Lalitpur City F.C. in the opening match of the third edition of the Nepal Super League (NSL).
The match, played on Saturday, saw Lalitpur take an early 2-0 lead. However, Kathmandu fought back strongly in the second half to level the game. The turning point came in injury time when Vincent Koziello scored from the penalty spot to secure the draw for Kathmandu.
Lalitpur had a strong start, scoring twice in the first 15 minutes. In the 5th minute, Jonathan Cantillana’s shot from a tight angle deflected off Kathmandu’s defender Kamal Shrestha, resulting in an own goal.
Then, in the 15th minute, Aditya Shakya doubled the lead with a goal following a well-executed assist from Sanish Shrestha and Papa Ibou Kebe. Imoh’s initial shot was blocked by Kathmandu goalkeeper Abhishek Baral, but the rebound fell to Imoh himself, who then passed the ball to Aditya, who scored easily.
Kathmandu, trailing by two goals at halftime, came out strong in the second half. Gillespye Jung Karki and Vincent Koziello showed their experience, with Koziello’s performance standing out. Having played in top leagues like Bundesliga and Ligue 1, Koziello displayed great skill. In the 76th minute, Kathmandu pulled one back when Amadou Diop scored their first goal. Gillespye Jung Karki provided a cross from the left side, and Diop, with a quick turn, managed to evade the defense and score, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
In injury time, Kathmandu was awarded a penalty after Lalitpur’s Yogesh Gurung fouled Vincent Koziello inside the penalty box with a high boot during a clearance attempt. Koziello stepped up and confidently sent Lalitpur goalkeeper Jeffrey Baltus the wrong way to score and level the game 2-2. He was awarded Man of the Match and received NPR 30,000 for his performance.
Meanwhile, Aditya Shakya was named Energetic Player of the Match and received NPR 15,000 for his lively and impactful performance, including the crucial goal he scored earlier.
The match ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw, with both teams sharing the points.
