Sahara Football Club enters semifinal

2014-03-08
A solitary goal from African player Victor helped Sahara Football Club (SFC) to beat departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) in 12th Aaha Rara Gold Cup 2014 played today at Pokhara.  In the competitive match it was Sahara Club who started the match in good note and Ashim Jung Karki a loan player from Boys Union Club almost got good chance but he was fouled by APF player Jagbu Sherpa in the 2nd minute. SFC created several chances and Peter Segun was smart enough to beat two APF defenders but his shot went inch above the post in the 8th minute.

The first good attempt from APF came in the 10th minute but Jangbu Sherpa failed to utilize free kick. APF custodian Amrit Chaudhary was smart to save superb free kick of Krishna Kunwar in the 11th minute. Jangbu Sherpa failed to utilize free header in the 13th minute his free header went little above the bar. APF custodian Chaudhary was alert to deny Ashim Jung Karki in the 17th minute before he denied Bishnu Kc a minute later. APF player Ranjan Bista’s powerful strike from outside the box went inch above the bar in the 19th minute. Heman Gurung’s free kick in the 25th minute was easily cleared by APF player Shiva Ram Giri in the 25th minute. SFC forwards looked blunt today and APF custodian Amrit Chaudhary did his best to deny them in many occasions. Heman Gurung’s left footed volley went inch above the bar in the 43rd minute. In the second half SFC played more aggressive football and Heman Gurung’s free kick from 30 yard distance was easily saved by APF custodian Amrit Chaudhary in the 47th minute. Victor gave a lovely pass to Saroj Dahal in the flank but Dahal failed to utilize it in the 48th minute. Heman Gurung tried his luck again through his free kick in the 51st minute but his free kick was easily saved by custodian Chaudhary. APF almost took a lead in the 55th minute but SFC custodian Sagar Gurung nicely punched the ball. Heman Gurung’s lovely free kick was not utilized from Ashim Jung Karki, Karki hit the woodwork in the 65th minute. Jangbu Sherpa’s curving ball was nicely saved by SFC custodian Sagar Gurung in the 77th minute. Ashim Jung Karki was unlucky today as he hit the crossbar in the 78th minute. Finally Sahara Football Club broke the deadlock of APF in the 79th minute Victor on loan from Friends Club scored a superb goal to take 1-0 up. SFC almost doubled their lead in the 83rd minute but custodian Amrit Chaudhary was smart enough to deny Victor. APF looked hurry to level the score in the remaining time but they failed to utilize it their veteran player Ganesh Lawati and young forward Ranjan Bista failed to utilize those chances and crash out from the tournament so the match ended in favor of Sahara Football Club and they enter semifinal in 12th Aaha Rara Gold Cup.