KATHMANDU, Dec 7: Swayambhu Club held Himalayan Sherpa Club (HSC) to a goalless draw and Nepal Police Club beat Friends Club 4-1 at the Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday, leaving group C of the ongoing British Gurkha Cup Football Tournament interestingly poised.
Following the results, Police, Friends, HSC and Swayambhu currently have four, three, two and one points respectively, which means the two quarterfinal spots from the group are still up for grabs for all four teams.[break]
The results of the last round matches of the group --to be played between Police and Swayambhu, and between HSC and Friends-- on Saturday will determine the two quarterfinalists from the group. The number of goals scored will have a crucial role in deciding the quarterfinalists if the final points are tied.
In the first match of the day, a Bhola Silwal-inspired Police team scored thrice in the first half to achieve their first victory in the tournament. Silwal gave the departmental team an early lead in the second minute, and then created chances for scoring two other goals.
Yogesh Shreshta doubled the tally nine minutes later when he headed home Silwal´s right flank cross, which had rebounded after hitting the bar. Jumanu Rai netted the third from close range in the 31st minute when he met an intelligent cross from Silwal. Suman Subedi added one more goal for Police through a header in the 68th minute in Parbat Pandey´s corner kick.
Ajad Pradhan scored a consolation goal for Friends five minutes from time through a superb low-ball strike from the box utilizing Suman Thapa´s pass.
Police, who were held to a goalless draw by HSC in their first match, came up with an impressive show from the beginning and dominated the whole match against Friends. Friends could create only a couple of opportunities.
Police coach Hari Khadka said that the early goals made the match easy for them. "We had targeted full points and we achieved it," said Khadka, the former star player and skipper of Police and national teams who has taken the charge of a team for the first time.
Khadka´s counterpart Paras Chaudhary, hinting to the three goals conceded during the first half, said his players could not coordinate well in their positions. He also cited the lack of experience of his young players for their defeat.
In another match, HSC´s goal drought stretched to 270 minutes as they failed to score in their third successive match against Swayambhu. HSC had played a goalless draw with Police in their first match of the group stage. Before that, they were defeated 2-0 by Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club in the semifinal of the Tilottama God Cup held in Butwal.
The stubborn defending line-up of Swayambhu prohibited HSC´s attack on many occasions.
HSC twice squandered scoring opportunities in the second half. Amar Pun failed to scored with an open net in front of him. Similarly, Nabin Neupane´s header from close range during late second half rebounded hitting the bar and Sunil Subedi´s header on the rebounder went out in a similar fashion.