POKHARA, Feb 24: The departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) Club has advanced into the quarterfinals of the ongoing 17th Aaha Rara Gold Cup defeating the A-Division League winner Manang Marshyangdi Club 1-0 in Pokhara on Saturday.
Pradeep Lama scored the winning goal for the team in the 70th minute to stun Manang. Santosh Shrestha hit a corner kick, and an unmarked Lama headed the ball which rattled the underside of the bar and went in.
APF, who deployed a counter attacking tactics from the start, sustained Manang’s pressure in the first half. Manang wasted over half a dozen chances to score a goal keeping APF under pressure in the half.
Manang got a chance in the third minute as Sujal Shrestha’s shot went wide, while a minute later, he dribbled past a couple of defenders, but the shot went wide of the bar again.
Manang lifts record sixth Aaha Rara Gold Cup title
Hemang Gurung missed a chance in the 21st minute as his shot from the middle area of the APF penalty box resulting from a Prakash Budathoki corner was saved by keeper Amrit Chaudhary. The rebound ball which was hit by Kamal Shrestha was saved by Chaudhary again.
Manang’s Anjan Bista hit a shot in the first minute of the first half injury time, but it was punched away by goalkeeper Chaudhary, while the rebound hit by Shrestha was saved again.
Manang could not continue the same attacking rhythm in the second half, but got a chance in the first minute of the injury time. Viktor Amoebi hit a shot, but the ball grazed over the bar.
APF presented an improved performance in the second half. It had failed to make a single move in the first period, created some good chances in the second.
Aashish Lama hit a good shot in the 68th minute, but the ball went over the bar.
It missed another chance again, this time to double the lead as Ram Kumar Kumal hit a shot resulting from a Santosh corner, went wide in the 75th minute.
Pradeep was named the man of the match and was rewarded with Rs 5,000.
APF coach Ratna Kaji Shrestha said that the team won the match as the second choice players played according to the tactics.
The other departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club and Himalayan Sherpa Club will take on each other on Sunday.
