MMC beats Police to set summit clash with Army

Feb 1: A decider from Afeez Olawale helped A-Division champion Manang Marshyangdi Club beat departmental team Nepal Police Club 1-0 in the ongoing second Madan Bhandari Memorial International Invitational Gold Cup football tournament on Thursday. 

Manang will face another departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club in the final on Saturday.

In the second semifinal match at the Itahari Stadium, dominating Manang put pressure on the Police since the first whistle. Olawale scored in the 43rd minute to give Manang the lead. Both teams had several opportunities to score but could not covert them. Olawale was adjudged man of the match.

Police had two golden opportunities to level the score in the injury time but failed to utilize them. The referee also denied Police’s penalty appeal after a handball from Manang in the last dying minutes.

Manang head coach Fuja Topa said he was satisfied with his team’s performance. 
“We will use the same tactics in the final against Army. Army is a strong team but we are confident we will beat them.”

Police head coach Ananta Raj Thapa admitted that his team lost the game due to failure to utilize the opportunities to score. 

“We played well. The referee should have awarded us the penalty. It could have changed everything,” he said.