Manang Marshyagdi Club beat Nepal Army Club

2014-03-31
Sujal Shrestha converted a second half spot kick as League champions Manang Marshyagdi Club (MMC) defeated departmental team Nepal Army Club (NAC) 1-0 to enter semifinals of the 16th Budha Subba Gold Cup 2014 at Dharan played on Monday.Both sides wasted numerous chances during the first half, with Deepak Rai missing the best opening in the 2nd minute as be blasted over from point- blank range. MMC started the match in good note and Deepak Rai again wasted a chance to take a lead his left footed shot from the edge of the box went inch wide from the pole in the 5th minute. Rupesh KC released a quick pass to Anil Gurung but NAC defender Jitendra Karki reacted quickly to clear the ball out from the box in the 13th minute of the match. Bishal Rai of MMC released a through pass to Yona Elias, latter looked slow, NAC custodian Bikash Malla came forward to save the ball in the 16th minute.

Army men’s first attempt came in the 20th minute when Amrit Basnet came closer to the goal but MMC custodian Bishal Shrestha did a fantastic save. MMC custodian Shrestha made a mistake his poor clearance was well taken by Army men Raju Tamang and Tamang’s ball at the edge of the box went inch above the bar in the 21st minute.NAC really missed their star forward Bharat Khawas as he did not join team due to training. MMC had a blow in the 27th minute as their rock solid defender Aziz had to be replaced by Deepak Bhusal as formal was injured. Anil Gurung tried over head kick but his kick did not connect with ball in the 29th minute. In the 36th minute MMC African forward Yona Elias involved in a heated situation with Army player and Army men skipper Bikash Malla and MMC skipper Sagar Thapa had to separate them. Sagar Thapa’s cross wall well headed by Yona Elias, latter’s header went inch wide from the pole in the 37th minute. Rupesh KC failed to score in the 42nd minute as KC kicked the ball straight to the hands of NAC’s custodian Bikash Malla. Nawayug Shrestha miised to score in one VS one situation with MMC’s custodian Bishal Shrestha as formal one’s shot went wide in the 45th minute. In the second half Army men defender handled the ball inside the penalty area and Sujal Shrestha colly slotted away the resulting spot kick for a goal to make 1-0 up against NAC. After conceding goal Army men looked confused and they did not keep their composure right after this goal. Nawayug Shrestha again failed to utilize the chance in the 57th minute he failed to score in free post. Goal scorer Sujal Shrestha almost doubled the tally in the 65th minute but NAC’s custodian Bikash Malla did his best to deny Shrestha. Deepak Rai’s superb shot from the edge was beautifully saved by NAC’s custodian Bikash Malla in the 78th minute. Raju Tamang wasted a brilliant goal scoring chance in the 84th minute. Raju Tamang’s superb corner kick was well cleared by MMC skipper Sagar Thapa in the 85th minute. In the remaining time both failed to score and MMC beat NAC by a solitary goal to set mouth watering semifinals clash against African United Club.