Full of thrill, suspense & drama

Biratnagar City FC  and Lalitpur City FC  gear up for the crucial face off in the  Nepal Super League at Dashrath Stadium  in Kathmandu Saturday.

With two  remaining playoff spots up for grabs,the outfits from Biratnagar and Lalitpur are locked in an intense battle for ascendancy.

The victory achieved by Pokhara Thunders over FC Chitwan has  thrown the tournament wide open with  a new twist.

It has  added intensity, suspense, spice,intrigue  and drama to Saturday’s fixtures. The million dollar question is,which way the pendulum will swing? I could not tell you right now.

The setup is perfect for a day of compelling, nail biting, engrossing and action packed football. It is going to keep us on the edge of our seat from start to finish.

Additional pressure has piled on Biratnagar City, Lalitpur City and  Butwal Lumbini, contenders  for playoffs. At this point, the picture is still murky and hard to say which two teams advances to the knockout stage,

One thing  that we all  can agree on, the three teams have to win to keep their playoffs hope alive.

Biratnagar City does  have a  point advantage over Lalitpur  City but that does not guarantee them a playoff spot.

The truth is that they  cannot afford to concede the match.Whether  a draw helps them or not is not clear yet.It  all depends on how the other playoff chasers perform .

They go into the match, following a tough loss to Kathmandu Rayzrs.My concern is players match fitness.

Having played a grueling ,fast paced, energy sapping end to end game against the Kathmandu outfit, they may lack the physical fitness for such an important and crucial showdown  against Lalitpur City.

They might still be carrying fatigue and wobbly legs.Whether they are prepared  or not, mentally and physically,  for the game with similar intensity, tempo and challenge is yet to be seen.

Given the importance of the match,another explosive, bruising duel  is in the offing. Biratnagar City must play cautious attacking football.

We did see their repertoire of offensive skills against Kathmandu Rayzrs but were vulnerable to counter attacks. The two goal lead they squandered to Kathmandu Rayzrs  speaks for itself.

With that said,Biratnagar has  to play with the same gutso, confidence level, rhythm, pace,momentum,urgency and tactical approach.

The defense must  do a much better job defending. At no point of the game, they  can allow mediocrity and lethargy creep into their performance and get caught off guard,  over and over, like in the last match. Defensive performance will be key to their success.

On the other hand, Lalitpur City  faces a massive challenge. For them the route to the playoffs is  nothing less than an outright victory.

A defeat or draw  eventually  ends their Nepal Super League campaign. They have to play an all out attacking football to unsettle the opponent from the word go.

 It is  increasingly important for Lalitpur  City to maintain a fast, furious pace in the entire match  to keep the opposition under constant pressure.

They can take a cue from Kathmandu Rayzrs and employ a similar game plan. Players  must rise to the occasion, keep their energy, confidence and aggression level high. 

Poor finish and inability to convert scoring opportunities have been their  Achilles heel.They have to show clinical finish and  cannot  afford  to squander scoring chances. 

Otherwise,it will only compound their  woes further and possibly cost them the match as well. The defense cannot relax and get  sloppy against a team like Biratnagar City that can score when chances come by.

They stand a chance to win provided they  play like a well -oiled machine and not let  scoring chances go begging.

An absorbing, nail biting and intriguing  duel is in the making. I still  think Biratnagar City  had a slight edge over Lalitpur City FC.

Butwal Lumbini FC  looking to turn the tables on Dhangad FC ?

Butwal  Lumbini FC are in a must win game against front runner Dhangadi FC in the Nepal Super Cup Saturday,

Stakes are high  for Butwal Lumbini as they  grimly battle to stay in the tournament.They are desperately vying for one of the playoff spots.

 Apparently they are under intense pressure to perform well and strike it rich. At all costs, they have to prevail  over formidable Dhangadi FC in order to get the job done.

They need a solid collective effort,coupled with individual brilliance,determination and resilience  to win at any cost.

 Strong contender Dhangadi FC  stands on their way  and poses a significant  threat to their  playoff hopes.Surely, it will not be easy getting the better of them.

Butwal Lumbini made a promising start to the tournament and looked like a strong contender. However, they fizzled out midway through, pushing  themselves into  a challenging position.

They will  require a  Herculean effort  against  Dhangadhi FC to overcome the challenge placed before them.   

Even more importantly, they have to be mentally and physically  prepared for the challenge, regain  form and play  to their potential.    

Since  Butwal Lumbini are in a must win situation, their only option is to play all -out attack.They  have to give everything they have for the decisive game.

They must take to the pitch with a winning mentality and gusto.They have to  believe in themselves and play with confidence, extra drive and vigor.

Upping the ante on performance in every stage of the game will be necessary to set the tempo of the game for Butwal Lumbini.

Having already secured a playoff spot, Dhangadi FC starting eleven  may  not  include a few key  players.   They might  be rested for the playoff game.Don't be surprised if they take  a casual approach to the game. Just a guess.

Should that  be the case, Butwal Lumbini benefits immensely.They have to show  consistency and hunger for success in their performance. 

And they must cash in on every goal scoring opportunity. I will say though, they have the potential to overcome the odds and prove themselves.

Are we  really in for a big surprise?  Anything is possible. We cannot rule out any possibility in sports. However, we will have to wait and see, I  am keeping  my fingers crossed.