African United Club beat Machhindra FC to enter Semi final

2014-03-29
African United Club (AUC) beat Machhindra Football Club (MFC) by 2-1 goals in the extra time to enter semifinals in Red Bull 16th Budha Subba Gold Cup football tournament 2014 on Saturday. Alvia Appiah and Ibrahim scored for winning team in the 39th minute and 113th minute respectively and Bishal Rai cut the deficit for Machhindra FC in the 90+1 minute.

It was the African United who started the match in impressive note and Victor almost punished opponents but MFC’s defender Hem Gurung did his best to send the ball out in the 5th minute. Karna Limbu of MFC came close to the goal but AUC’s custodian Binaya Shrestha did his best to deny Limbu in the 8th minute. Segun was smart enough to shot from outside the box but MFC’s custodian Dinesh Thapa did his best to save it in the 11th minute. Uttam Gurung’s good corner kick went out in the 18th minute AUC looked physically strong but they did not take advantage of it but Alvia Appiah scored for AUC in the 39th minute to take 1-0 up against MFC. After conceding the goal, MFC looked aggressive and tried their best to level the score but Bishal Rai and Karna Limbu failed to utilize the chance in the 42nd minute and 44th minute respectively. In the second half MFC did their best to level the score and Jagjeet Shrestha a loan player from Three Star Club came closer to level the score in the 59th minute  but failed to beat AUC’s defender. Though MFC had some national football players they did not play as good as their potentials. Karna Limbu gave a good pass for Bishal Rai but Rai’s good shot went inch above the bar in the 64th minute. Jagjeet Shrestha’s superb free kick was magnificently saved by AUC’s custodian Binaya Shrestha in the 68th minute. Karna Limbu wasted a brilliant chance to score a goal in the 73rd minute his shot was hardly saved by AUC’s custodian Binaya Shrestha. AUC played defensive football rather than attacking football in the second half. League’s best midfielder Sushil KC almost scored for MFC in the 89th minute but his superb shot was hardly saved by Binaya Shrestha. Finally in the 90+1 minute MFC leveled the score through Bishal Rai to make 1-1. After 1-1 draw in regular time match went in the extra time and in the first half of extra time Jagjeet Shrestha’s superb free kick went inch above the bar in the 96th minute. Karna Limbu and Bishal Rai failed to utilize the chance in the 97th minute and 98th minute respectively. Peter and Boby also missed the chance to take a lead for AUC in the 99th minute and 100th minute respectively. African United Club doubled the lead in the 113th minute when Ibrahim scored to make 2-1 up against MFC. League runner up failed to play as they used to play in A Division League. After this win AUC enter in to the semifinals of Budha Subba Gold Cup 2014.