Raj Paudel struck twice and Ram Thapa Magar added another for Jawalakhel that played the last 12 minutes of the match with 10 men after Ajay Thapa Magar was booked twice. Friends was also reduced to 10 men during the last three minutes of injury time after defender Deepak Bhusal was sent off.[break]
Friends cut the deficit through second-half goals from Santosh Tamang and Arjun Subba, but could not find the equalizer.
Jawalakhel had defeated Friends 1-0 in their last encounter during the Gurkha Cup in the capital some six months ago. Jawalakhel will meet Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in the quarterfinal on Saturday.
Paudel put Jawalakhel ahead in the 28th minute chipping custodian Ajeet Prajapati after being set up by Saurav Magar. Man-of-the-match Thapa Magar doubled the tally 10 minutes later in Suraj Thing´s pass.
Paudel scored his second and Jawalakhel´s third goal during the hour mark. Goalkeeper Prajapati tried to parry Pradip Maharjan´s freekick but the ball rebounded off the bar and Paudel headed in to make it 3-0.
Santosh Tamang cut the deficit in the 63rd scoring in a straight freekick from Arjun Subba, a 46th minute replacement for Anil Ojha. Subba added another for Friends in the first minute of seven-minute injury time.
Jawalakhel put Friends under pressure from the beginning and created some other chances besides scoring. In the 15th minute, Jeevan Sinkeman´s strike in a Jagunath Khadka cross rebounded off custodian Prajapati´s feet. Prajapati also denied Paudel in a one-on-one situation.
Friends also squandered some scoring chances with Ranjit Shrestha firing above the bar in the 34th. Friends´ Suraj Thing made a goal-mouth clearance to deny Santosh Tamang after custodian Bikesh Kutu had moved forward. In the 56th custodian Kutu punched Bhusal´s scorcher to safety.
Friends coach Meghraj KC said taking the opponent lightly in the first half resulted in the defeat. "We became weak after conceding two goals before the interval and the players lacked concentration," KC said at the post-match conference.
Jawalakhel coach Raj Kumar KC opined that solid defense and long training were key to their victory. "We have been training together for a long time which helped keep the players fit," KC said.
Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Club will take on Yeti FC of Australia on Wednesday.
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