Three Star had earlier defeated Bengal Mumbai 1-0 on Wednesday but the organizer Sikkim Football Association ordered a rematch after the Indian club filed a protest against Three Star for fielding African player Ezee Collins, who is registered at the All India Football Federation.[break]
Three Star, who were marching towards a victory with a 1-0 lead, conceded a goal three minutes from time and were held 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes. The match then headed for a tiebreaker which the Nepali side lost after Bharat Khawas and Buddha Chemjong missed the penalties. Khawas shot wide while Chemjong´s spot kick was saved by the goalkeeper.
The match headed towards a tiebreaker due to a mistake of Three Star keeper Kiran Chemjong. He released the ball hastily in the 87th minute only to see it land on the foot of opponent player Royston DeSouza 40 yards away. DeSouza struck back from the same place as the long range shot entered the net. Chemjong was not able to stop the ball as he didn´t expect the same ball that he released would come back immediately.
DeSouza´s equalizer cancelled the goal scored by Bikram Lama earlier in the 65th minute. Lama, who was substituted for Anil Ojha, scored in his second touch within two minutes from entering the field. Lama´s collected a pass from Buddha Chemjong and his first goal for the club hit the goalkeeper and bounced into the net.
Three Star´s Raj Kumar Ghising, Biraj Maharjan and Raju Rai scored during the tiebreaker.
“We played better than yesterday, but unfortunately we lost because of one mistake,” Three Star coach Meghraj KC said. “Today was not our day,” he added.
Bengal´s skipper Henry Gangate backed KC´s view and said, “Three Star´s performance was good like the last time but we were lucky.”
Three Star couldn´d finish about half a dozen chances throughout the match. Bengal custodian Harshad Mehra foiled Ghisings one versus one attempts thrice. The match had stalled for seven minutes at the end of first half after Ong Lopcha fouled Yogesh Gurung. Three Star players then pushed their opponents and subsequently Ghising and Bishnu Sunuwar were yellow carded. Three Star will return on Monday according to the team manager Krishna Bahadur Shrestha.
MMC´s real test
Nepali supporters in Sikkim are resting their hopes on Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) after the exit of Nabil Three Star Club from the tournament. MMC, who had hard-fought victories in the last two games, will face title contenders Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Mumbai on Sunday.
In the first match, MMC squeezed past local club Camellia United Sikkim in a tiebreaker, while they defeated Mohammedan Sporting Club 1-0 on Friday, thanks to a freekick goal from defender Deepak Bhusal. Meanwhile, ONGC´s run up to the semifinals has been quite impressive. ONGC thrashed Punjab Police 8-1 in the first match and beat Techno Aryan 3-0 in the quarterfinal.
Newly promoted to the I-League from this season, ONGC are one of the strongest teams in the tournament. MMC coach Bal Gopal Maharjan too acknowledges this fact. “We will be cautious because ONGC look quite strong from their last two matches,” he said.
Maharjan is likely to field the same team that played the quarterfinal match, with some changes in formation. Maharjan might use a lone striker. Meanwhile, defender Anjan KC is reportedly suffering from cough and cold. All others except for Pasang Lama and Kalu Thapa are fit, according to the coach.
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