The Bhaktapur based team stunned Nepal Army Club 4-3 in a tiebreaker thriller coming from a goal down to level the score 1-1 in the regulation time and hold it to a goalless draw during the added 30 minutes despite getting restricted to 10-man for last four minutes. [break]
Army missed two spot-kicks, including the third and last one, which ended the departmental team´s run from the quarterfinal stage. Custodian Kutu denied the fifth spot-kick taken by Nepali international Raju Tamang as Madhyapur made it to the semifinal without firing the last one. Earlier, Army skipper Santosh Nepali failed to achieve target hitting wide the third spot-kick.
Jeetendra Karki, Nawayug Shrestha and Tek Bahadur Budathoki converted the spot-kick, while Saroj Dahal, Jeevan Sinkeman, Sanjay Rajbahak and Bed Shrestha all converted penalty for Madhyapur.
Friends lift Bikesh Kutu after winning the match.
Coaches of both the teams were full of praise for Kutu who made more than half a dozens of valiant saves to deny Army players from scoring.
"Kutu made many brilliant saves," Army coach Yogembar Suwal made brief comment about the custodian during post match conference. Madhyapur coach, also the former goalkeeper of Nepali national team Upendraman Singh termed the goalie´s performance as outstanding.
"Kutu has been giving outstanding performance since entry into the club. He has a great future and could be one of the best custodians of Nepali national team if he gets proper training." Singh also lauded his team´s stubborn defender Saroj Dahal.
Madhyapur will take on winner between McDowell´s RCT and Bauddha FC in the semifinal.
Earlier, Army dominated the show, piled up immense pressure and made nearly a dozen attacks on Madhyapur´s post. Army took lead in the 39th minute through Tek Bahadur Budathoki who made a bouncing header in Hiranya Magar´s corner.
But veteran Nirajan Rayamajhi replied for Madhyapur with an equalizer four minutes into the second half in lone effort. Rayamajhi dribbled past two defenders and beat inexperienced Army custodian Sushil Sribastav, who got a rare start in the tournament due to regular custodian and skipper Bikash Malla´s knee injury.
Army also remained misfortunate as it hit the bar thrice. Nawayug Shrestha´s header in the seventh minute in Tanka Basnet cross rebounded off the bar. Similarly, Deep Lama twice hit the woodwork.
In the first half, Kutu denied twin attacks each from Hiranya Magar, Tek Bahadur Budathoki and Nawayug Shrestha. In the second half, Raju Tamang missed two chances. Tamang volleyed above bar from the area in 69th minute and in the stoppage time his strike from arch was caught by Kutu. Similarly, Santosh Nepali fired above bar from penalty spot a minute later.
In the first minute of the added half hour, Bharat Khawas´s powerful attempt from the arch was brilliantly punched by Kutu. Madhyapur was limited to 10-man in the 114th minute after Balgopal Sahukhala was sent off for second bookable offence in the 114th minute.
Other than scoring goal, Madhyapur made only two attacks. In the 41st minute, Raj Kumar Ghising´s strike from the edge was denied by goalie Sribastav. In the second half, scorer Rayamajhi´s free-kick sailed inches away from the crossbar.
"We failed to score despite our control over the match," Suwal, the army coach, said.
Suwal´s counterpart Singh lauded the hard effort of his team. “Everyone fulfilled their duty well and played as per the strategy," Singh said. "We changed the strategy in the second half and it worked properly. I want to thank the players and supporters. They have made the club proud."
Madhyapur misses 4 players in semifinal
Madhyapur will be without four key members of the squad in semifinal to be played between the winner of McDowell´s RCT and Bauddha FC. Forward Balgopal Shaukhala who was sent off against Nepal Army Club will not be available in the next match.
Similarly, defender Rupendra Shrestha, Bed Shrestha and skipper Jeevan Sinkeman will also miss the next match as they were booked with second yellow card against Army. "We have sound replacements, but the team might be affected in the absence of senior players," coach Singh said.
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