Three Star registered a hard fought 3-2 win over Hong Kong Nepalese Football Club in the second semifinal on Thursday. [break]
In the highly competitive match, Three Star came back from a goal down to defeat Hong Kong and set up a title clash with defending champion MMC. The final will be held on Saturday.
Bishan Gauchan, Santosh Sahukhala and Nirajan Khadka scored a goal each for the winning side, while Bishal Rai and Bizu Limbu scored for the visitors in either half.
Gauchan scored in the 29th minute to cancel Bishal Rai´s fourth-minute lead for Hong Kong. Gauchan sent the ball past goalie Min Basnet after the defenders failed to clear a shot by Sahukhala in the area in a solo effort.
Earlier, Rai had put the team in charge in the fourth minute in a pass of Tanka Basnet.
Nepali international Sahukhala made it 2-1 for Three Star when he slammed home a corner out of a scuffle in the box as the opponent defenders failed to clear the ball. Khadka scored the third goal for Three Star when he unleashed a powerful 25-yard strike leaving goalie Basnet helpless. Man-of-the-match Gauchan had set up Khadka for the goal.
Hong Kong put up a fight until the final whistle and reduced the goal deficit six minutes from time. Bizu Limbu made it 2-1 with a strike into the far post from the area. However, the visitors could not score the all-important third goal in the remaining period.
In the entertaining match, both the teams squandered some scoring chances. Tanka Basnet, Sagar Thapa, Nagendra Limbu and Mumbara of Hong Kong each missed a scoring opportunity. Similarly, Buddha Chemjong, Sahukhala, and Gauchan squandered scoring chances for Three Star.
Three Star coach Meghraj KC credited teamwork and coordination among his players for victory. "Though the opponents performed better than us, we achieved victory due to teamwork," said KC, adding that his defense looked poor from start to finish.
Hong Kong´s assistant coach Buddhi Prasad Gurung attributed the defeat to weak midfield. "The players performed according to our strategy but the midfield was very weak," Gurung said.