Sahara FC beat Nepal Police Club to enter semifinals

2014-04-1

Sahara Football Club (SFC) beat Nepal Police Club (NPC) by 3-2 in spot kick battle to enter semifinals of the 16^th Budha Subba Gold Cup 2014 at Dharan played on Tuesday.

Both sides wasted numerous chances during the first half, with NPC player Ganesh Khadka missed an early chance to take a lead as he failed to beat SFC’s custodian Sagar Gurung in the 5^th minute.SFC player Saroj Dahal’s good cross was well saved by NPC’s custodian Ritesh Thapa in the 9^th minute of the match. Bijaya Gurung’s nice volley was well blocked by NPC defenders in the 12^th minute. 

SFC wasted a chance to take a lead in the 13^th minute as Heman Gurung’s free kick went inch above the bar. Rabin Shrestha’s superb free kick in the 16^th minute was well saved by SFC’s custodian Sagar Gurung. NPC custodian Ritesh Thapa was smart enough to deny Anil Ojha’s free kick in the 24^th minute of the match. NPC player Dipen Rai missed a golden chance to take a lead as he failed to strike from the close range in the 31^st minute. Ganesh Khadka of NPC looked dangerous and his dangerous shot was beautifully denied by Sagar Gurung in the 37^th minute of the match. NPC took a lead in the 44^th minute through Jumanu Rai as he successfully beat two defenders, Man Bahadur and Suraj Thing to make 1-0 up against SFC. In the second half SFC looked aggressive and they tried their best to level the score and they did it in the 52^nd minute through Suman Lama who utilized a good pass of Bijaya Gurung to make 1-1. After conceding the goal, NPC looked recharged and Rabin Shrestha almost took a lead for them but SFC’s custodian Sagar Gurung was very smart enough to punch the ball in the 56^th minute. Bhola Nath Silwal’s powerful strike from outside the box was well blocked by SFC’s defender Saroj Dahal in the 62^nd minute. Bijaya Gurung was smart enough to give a pass to Heman Gurung and latter’s shot was nicely denied by NPC’s custodian Ritesh Thapa in the 63^rd minute. Nir Kumar Rai looked promising in the 74^th minute and his promising strike was hardly denied by SFC’s custodian Sagar Gurung. Heman Gurung’s brilliant shot was well punched by NPC’s custodian Ritesh Thapa in the 80^th minute of the match. In the regular time both failed to score and the match went in to the extra time of 15 minutes. In the first half of extra time NPC looked confident and Ganesh Khadka almost took a lead for NPC but Sagar Gurung did his best to deny Khadka in the 95^th minute of the match. In the second half of the extra time both teams failed to capitalize the chance and in the spot kick battle, Rabin Shrestha’s first spot kick was well saved by SFC’s custodian Sagar Gurung. Anil Ojha from Sahara FC scored for SFC and make 1-0 up against NPC in spot kick battle. Ajit Bhandari and Jumanu Rai scored for NPC meanwhile Suman Lama of SFC also scored in spot kick. Bhupal Gurung and Bhola Nath Silwal from Sahara Club and Nepal Police Club missed the spot kick. Sagar Gurung successfully scored for SFC and he nicely saved Ganesh Khadka’s spot kick to send SFC to the semifinals of Budha Subbha Gold Cup 2014.