Shrestha scored in the early moments of either half for defending champion MMC to set up a last-four clash with either Three Star or Jawalakhel.[break]
Shrestha opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a bouncing header from the right flank in a corner taken by Sujal Shrestha.
He doubled the advantage four minutes into the second half firing into the far post from the area in Deepak Rai´s pass. Shrestha´s second goal was the 100th goal of the tournament.
MMC coach Amrit Panta opined that his side could have played better football if the ground condition was better. "I had expected the match to be postponed due to downpour. Had the ground condition been better we could have played better," Panta said, adding that all teams were of similar standard. The ground had become slippery because of heavy downpour a few hours before the kick-off.
MMC created more than half-a-dozen chances while Machhindra created as many as three chances. In the 20th minute, Machhindra custodian Dinesh Thapa Magar made a diving save to deny scorer Shrestha from the edge. Machhindra replied two minutes later, but custodian Bishal Shrestha punched Karna Limbu´s strike from the edge to safety.
In the 23rd, Machhindra glovesman Thapa Magar again prevented forward Yona Elias Ndabila´s strike. In the 44th, the custodian again denied Sujal Shrestha´s powerful strike from close range.
MMC striker Anil Gurung missed two scoring chances after the interval. Gurung failed to score in an open net in the 56th minute in Ndabila´s acute pass as the ball stopped after landing in a pool of water on the pitch. Four minutes from time, custodian Thapa Magar punched Gurung´s header to safety. In the stoppage time, substitute Bishal Rai´s shot from close range was denied by custodian Thapa Magar
Machhindra´s second post attempt came during the hour mark but Karna Limbu headed inches above the bar in Rajin Dhimal´s cross. In the 72nd minute, MMC custodian Bishal Shrestha prevented Bishal Rai´s strike from the edge after the latter had beaten two defenders.
Machhindra coach Raju Shakya also echoed his counterpart Panta´s views. "The ground was slippery due to rain and hampered our performance," Shakya said. "The team looked technically poor in passing and controlling." Shakya, however, expressed satisfaction toward his team´s performance. "The team did not have training and I am happy with the performance they came up with."
Departmental teams Nepal Police Club and Nepal Army Club will face each other in the second quarterfinal on Saturday.
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