KATHMANDU, March 11: A-Division League runner-up Tribhuvan Army Club has secured its semifinal berth in the ongoing 18th Aaha Rara Gold Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win over Sankata Club in Pokhara on Tuesday.
In the final quarterfinal match played at the Pokhara Stadium’s football ground, Sudip Rai, Nawayug Shrestha and substitute Bibek Basnet scored a goal each as the team cruised towards the semifinals with dominative attacking display.
Army thoroughly enjoyed possession throughout the game as it dominated Sankata completely.
It had played a 1-1 draw with Sankata in the league, while it had defeated the team 2-1 in the Mai Valley Gold Cup in Ilam.
Army took the lead in the 15th minute of the match through Rai as he converted in a pass from Shrestha to draw the first blood.
The team, who looked more aggressive after getting the first goal, could not work its way to the second in the first half.
But then doubled its score in the 71st minute through Shrestha.
Manang stuns Army again to reach final
Santosh Tamang hit a corner which was headed by Bikash Tamang. Sankata keeper saved the earlier effort.
But he could not keep out the rebound from Shrestha as the forward took advantage of the mistake inside the box.
Basnet, who entered the pitch in place of Sudil Rai in the 68th minute, score just seven minutes after coming on.
He converted in a pass from Sessenhang Angdembe to secure a big win for the departmental team.
Army had a chance of registering an even bigger win, but it wasted a lot of chances.
Shrestha passed the ball to forward George Prince Karki in the 62nd minute, but his shot from near the d-box went over the bar.
Fullback Suman Aryal hit a shot in the 72nd minute, but it was punched away to safety by Sankata keeper Raja "
Babu Thapa, while Santosh’s shot a minute later was again saved.
Karki got another chance to score for the team in the 84th minute after a good pass from captain Bharat Khawas, but the youngster’s shot was easy enough for keeper Thapa to save.
Karki missed yet another chance as he beat two Sankata defenders to get inside the box, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Thapa again in the last minute of the injury time.
Sankata had a few chances of its own, but could not score any of them.
Daddy Amba did a good overlap in the 41st minute, but his shot grazed over the crossbar.
Messouke Pierre took the ball of an Army defender, but his shot from the edge of the box just went wide off the target in the hour mark.
Likewise, Pierre had a chance to get a consolation in the 89th minute, but missed again.
Nawayug was named the man of the match.
Army will now take on A-Division League opponent Manang Marshyangdi Club, while Three Star Club will face Nepal Police Club in the first semifinal encounter.
Army head coach Nabin Neupane said that, the team could not perform well in the first half since the team had not played a game together for a while.
“The team functioned well in the second half. The aim of the club is to end the year with Aaha Rara title and it won’t be hard to defeat Manang if we play this way,” Neupane said.
Sankata head coach Salyan Khadgi said that, the team had to lose the game heavily after failing to convert its chances.
