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| Kathmandu, Thursday September 26, 2002 Ashwin 10, 2059. |
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Armymen march into semi-finals
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Sept 25 The Royal Nepal Army’s Tribhuvan Club
advanced to the semifinal of the Birthday Cup Football tournament following their 2-1 win
over visiting United Kurseong Football Club (UKFC) on Wednesday.
The win means the army men will now meet
rival departmental club Mahendra Police Club (MPC) in the first final of the tournament on
Saturday.
Goals from Raju Lama and Tulashi Chaudhary in
each half secured the victory for Tribhuvan Club while Uday Rai found the consolation a
minute from time for the visiting team, which replaced Milan Bhiti Club, Kolkata in final
hour. The Kolkata outfit cancelled their trip due to their commitment to play postponed
Kolkata league.
"We did not get enough time to prepare
mentally and physically," said coach Suraj Pradhan of UKFC. "This is our second
string team and yet they played superbly today against a good team," Pradhan added.
He also hinted extensive travel and busy matches in this fortnight hampered the
performance of his team. UKFC had competed Governors’ Gold Cup in Sikkim, India
recently and there too they went down against Boarder Security Force of India in penalty
shoot-out.
The army team looked superb in defense and
midfield but as usually happens, their striking force was beyond par. The strikers missed
several chances and a couple of one to one chances in the match. "Yet again our
strikers failed to live up to expectation," complained team manager Binod Bista.
"We won the match but I am not pleased the way our attack went. Anyway, no boys
should give hundred per cent in the semifinal against MPC because a couple of errors at
the front prove costly at the final result," the manager added.
The visiting team had a close look in the 4th
minute when Crispin Chettri headed wide a William Pradhan corner. Army team also got a
convincing chance after UKFC goalkeeper Pranit Chettri faltered to save a Tulasi
Chaudhary’s cross at the centre and allowed the ball to roll on the foot of unmarked
Biswa Bairag Samal. But Samal hit the ball wide outside the vacant net to squander the
golden opportunity.
Tribhuvan Club had to wait till 31st minute
to open their account. Lama took the ball into his stride and fired a grounding shot past
UKFC goal for 1-0 up after Chaudhary hit the bar which rebounded to play. Army team was at
the driver’s seat at the half time whistle.
The change of end did not change the pace and
form of the match as army continued their dominance but suffered from the lack of clinical
finish. And the slippery and waterlogged ground also did not let both the sides to play
with full swing in the field.
Tribhuvan Club confirmed their win in the
67th minute when Chaudhary played a brilliant chip shot to dazzle goalie Chetri doubling
the lead at 2-0. Chaudhary gathered a Samal set-piece into his stride and chipped the ball
before advancing Chettri could get a touch of it.
Ladup Lama of the visiting team pull one back
but to no avail as he scored during the injury time. Prem Rai directed a free kick inside
the penalty area of the army team where Lama, after dribbling two army defenders, guided
the ball inside army net to get the consolation. Referee Surendra Sikrakar blew the final
whistle just after the goal.
The visiting Eastern Railways FC from Kolakata, India will
lock horns against star-studded Friends’ Club to decide the complete semifinals
line-up on Thursday. Friends’ Club posted a 3-0 victory over New Road Team (NRT)
while the Kolkata outfit received direct entry to the quarterfinals.
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