APF beat Nepal U-16 Team to enter quaterfinal

2014-03-04 
In the first match played today departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) beat Nepal U-16 at Pokhara in 12th Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2014. Latter beaten by 4-2 in spot kick battle. Teams ended the regular match in 1-1 draw, it was Nepal U-16 who took an early lead in the 15th minute of the match through Anjan Bista but Ranjan Bista leveled the score in the 35th minute for APF.

It was APF who started the match in good note and they scored in the 2nd minute but Santosh Shrestha’s goal was ruled out offiside by referee. APF dominated the field and Shiva Ram Giri’s corner kick was beautifully cleared by Nepal U-16 defender Ananta Tamang in the 5th minute. Nepal U -16’s first good attempt came from Bikash Thapa in the 10th minute but his kick went little wide off the target. Nepal U-16 took an early lead in the 15th minute when Anjan Bista scored a brilliant goal utilizing Hemant Thapa’s corner kick to make them 1-0 up. Though APF were down by a goal they played attacking game and tried their best to level the score and they finally did it in the 35th minute when Ranjan Bista punished Nepal U -16 defenders to make 1-1. In the second half Nepal U-16 almost doubled the lead but APF custodian Amrit Chaudhary nicely denied Aakash Thapa’s long ranger in the 49th minute. Custodian Chaudhary was again smart enough to save Hemanta Thapa’s kick in the 55th minute. Shyam Nepali of APF came closer to the goal but his attempt went inch wide in the 75th minute. APF were unlucky to score in the 77th minute when Ranjan Bista got the rebounded ball and tried his luck from edge of the box but his kick went little above the bar. In the 90th minute APF forward Ranjan Bista tried his long range from outside the box but went little above the bar. The match was again played for 30 more extra minute but Palsang Lama’s header went little above the bar in the 103 minute. Nepal U -16 forward Bimal Gharti Magar wasted a good chance in the 110th minute. The extra time ended in goalless draw and both teams went in spot kick battle. First spot kick was taken from Nepal U-16 captain Bimal Gharti Magar but his spot kick was superbly saved by APF custodian Amrit Chaudhary, Nabin Lama scored for APF in spot kick to take his team 1-0 up in spot kick. Hemanta Thapa Magar scored for Nepal U-16 in the second spot kick and make 1-1. Custodian Chaudhary became hero again to save spot kick of Nepal U -16 player Anjan Bista. After that Jangbu Sherpa, Palsang Lama and Rajendra Rawal scored for APF, meanwhile only Anil Rai scored for Nepal U-16. APF won the match in spot kick battle with 4-2 to enter quarterfinal of the Aaha Rara Cup 2014. In today’s match Nepal U -16 captain Bimal did not play as good as he used to play  and his team knockout from the tournament with this loss.