Ravi Silwal and Ellon Maxwell scored as Sankata Club beat Gorkha Boys of Rupandehi 2-0 to enter the quarter-finals of the Khaptad Gold Cup football tournament on Friday.
Ravi Silwal and Ellon Maxwell scored as Sankata Club beat Gorkha Boys of Rupandehi 2-0 to enter the quarter-finals of the Khaptad Gold Cup football tournament on Friday.
Coming after a remarkable second-place finish in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League that concluded on Tuesday, Sankata made their intent clear early on when Saroj Dahal’s flicked attempt on Saroj Dahal cross went whisters away from the post in the seventh minute.
Despite the Sankata domination, Gorkha Boys almost scored in the 18th shot only for goalkeeper Raja Babu Thapa to punched out a 25-yard shot from Shiva Shrestha. Thapa kept the game scoreless as he made a diving save to deny Kasim’s powerful shot in the 38th minute.
Sankata, however, took the lead first minute into the stoppage time as Lamichhane controlled a pass from Jay Gurung inside the area and struck beyond the reach of Gorkha Boys custodian Shojit Gurung.
Sankata thought they had doubled their tally in the 66th minute when Maxwell rolled the ball in an empty net only to see Kuldeep Karki clear it from the goalline. Maxwell made amends to his earlier miss by scoring in the 83th minute for Sankata. Maxwell was in right place to drill home a low cross from Fofana Ibrahim to seal the victory for Sankata.
Gorkha Boys should have pulled one back in the injury time when Mashud received a wonderful pass from Kuldeep and with only Sankata custodian Thapa to beat, the forward shot off target. Sankata coach Salyan Khadgi said his team played well below par largely due to poor condition of the ground. Gorkha Boys coach Dayaram Shrestha said: The final outcome could have been different had not we wasted scoring opportunities.”
The tournament offers the eventual champions Rs 2.1 million while the runners-up will earn Rs 1 million. Nepal Armed Police Force Club will take on Kakarvitta Training Centre in the first quarter-final match on Saturday.
Jhapa advance into final
PANCHTHAR: Jhapa XI secured a passage to the final of the Falgunanda Gold Cup football tournament with an edge 1-0 win over top-tier outfits Saraswoti Club on Friday. Skipper Karna Limbu struck the winning goal in the 53rd minute to set up the title clash with either Royal Football Club of Darjeeling or Tribhuvan Army Club, who play in the second semi-final match on Saturday. Dilen Loktan of Jhap was adjudged man-of-the-match and earned Rs 10,000 for his effort. The champions will get Rs 400,000 and the runners-up will receive Rs 200,000.
15.12°C Kathmandu
