POKHARA, Jan 25: Dharan Football Club has started the 16th Aaha Rara Gold Cup football tournament with a 3-0 win over India’s Sikkim United on Wednesday.
At the Pokhara Stadium, Roman Limbu scored the opening goal in the 61st minute to give Dharan a lead, converting Bharat Mohan Rai’s shot into goal. Dharan doubled the lead just after two minutes through Saujan Rai. Dhiran Rai scored a header in the 74th minute to seal the win for Dharan.
Sikkim crashed out of the tournament as it failed to convert many chances in front of the goal.
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“We had fielded new players and we could not score despite playing well in the first half,’’ Sikkim United’s head coach Pema Gyatso Bhutia said, “Despite playing well in the first half, the players lost nerve soon after conceding back-to-back goals in the second period.”
He further added that the absence of senior players, who were in Patana to participate in a tournament, was the reason his team could not get success against Dharan. Sikkim had faced defeat at the hands of the organizer Sahara in tiebreaker in the quarterfinal of the last edition.
Sikkim’s Suraj Chhetri missed many chances to score during the match among which was his two shots that were off target. Also, Pema Lendhup’s shot from 30 yard out in the 26th minute sailed just over the cross bar, while Manos Rai’s shot which came from a Manoj Dharnal pass was easily caught by Dharan’s goalkeeper.
Dharan’s Nishan Limbu was rewarded with the man-of-the-match and was given a cash prize of Rs 5,000.
Dharan’s head coach Ashok Rai said that the win boosted the confidence of the team despite failing to play well.
“We came straight to Pokhara after playing in Itahari on Tuesday. My players did not even get to rest,’’ Rai said, “The match was loose because players did not even get to warmup as we arrived overnight. ‘’
The tournament, which was started from Tuesday, will conclude on February 3.
Today’s match
Armed Police Force (APF) vs CMG Sankata Club
