The match was decided through spotkicks after the regular 90 minutes ended in a 1-1 draw. Pokhara crashed out of the tournament after Sunil BK smashed off the target. Earlier, Rabi Thapa, Rakesh Gurung, Pradip Gurung and Suleman Magar all converted their spot kicks. APF players Sudip Shikhrakar, Anjan Bista, Ganesh Lawati, Milan Rai and Jangbo Sherpa all converted from the spot.
APF will take on Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club in the semifinal on Wednesday. MMC thrashed CFC of Bhutan 8-0 in the inaugural match.
Earlier, Pokhara took the driving seat in the 22nd minute through penalty. Rakesh earned the penalty for Pokhara after he was fouled by Sudip in the danger zone and he himself converted the resulting penalty kick.
Ganesh Lawati restored parity for departmental team in the 33rd minute with a brilliant header. Ganesh, left unmarked, headed a cross of Sudip to make it 1-1.
Rabi Thapa of Pokhara was declared the-man-of-the-match and received Rs 5000.
APF coach Janak Singh Tharu blamed match referee Sudish Pandey of unfair judgment toward his team. "We never win match officiated by referee Pandey, but it was a co-incidence that we won today," said Tharu, who expressed dissatisfaction over the referee's decision of ruling Ganesh Lawati's 31st minute goal as offside.
Pokhara coach Bivek Gurung expressed satisfaction with his side's performance and pointed out lack of inexperience as the reason for weak scoring prowess.
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