POKHARA, Feb 4: The departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) Club has advanced into the semifinals of the ongoing Manakamana Cable Car Pokhara Cup scoring the fastest goal in the tournament history to defeat Three Star Club in Pokhara on Sunday.
At the Pokhara Stadium, Santosh Shrestha scored a sensational goal inside the first 35 seconds of the match after he overlapped from the wings to convert a terrific pass from Rajeev Lopchan. The ball was touched by Three Star keeper Alan Neupane on the way, and hit the inside of the bar to go in. Lopchan had started the attack from the center after the opening whistle.
APF, who took the lead early on in the game, looked set to defend its sensational lead. It got another chance in the 26th minute as Lopchan’s left side shot went just outside of the bar.
First Manakamana semis postponed
The goal had shocked the whole ground, but with Lopchan’s performance inside the first 30 minutes, the Three Star fans were thrilled.
“We conceded a surprising goal which kept us under pressure throughout the game. They started playing defensive football and looked successful in it,’’ Three Star head coach Megh Raj KC said.
APF head coach Rajendra Tamang said that the tactics for the game was successful. “We scored a surprising goal, it’s true.”
APF defender Ramesh Dangal was named the man of the match and was rewarded with Rs 10,000.
Three Star looked sluggish in attack and could not create enough chances to reply a goal back in a tense quarterfinal match. APF kept hold of its lead as Three Star’s attacks were cleared by the goalline and saved by the goalkeeper.
The departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club will take on Cameroon’s Dauphins Club on Monday.
