MORANG, April 7: The departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club has advanced into the final of the ongoing fifth Birat Gold Cup football tournament with a 1-0 winover Jhapa XI in the first semifinal on Friday. 

At the Shahid Stadium, Army’s Bimal Pandey scored the only goal of the match in the second half to send Army into the final. 

Pandey scored in the 69th minute from a Bharat Khawas corner guiding the ball by his head into the back of the net. 

Army had won the third Jhapa Gold Cup last month defeating Jhapa XI in the final. 
Army will take on the winner of the second semifinal match between Ruslan Three Star Club and CMG Sankata Club to be played on Saturday. 

The final is scheduled for Monday. 

Captain Khawas was named the man-of-the-match for his assist to the only goal of the game and was rewarded with Rs 10,000. 

Army head coach Nabin Neupane said that the win was possible as his players played according to the tactics. He also praised his opponent for their performance. 

“Jhapa is a brilliant team with good players, so we had assigned tactics to strongly mark the three foreign players. So, it was possible to win the match keeping them at bay,’’ Neupane said. 
Jhapa head coach Prabesh Katuwal said that his team had to face a defeat because they failed to convert the chances they got in front of goal. 

He also blamed the referee for taking wrong decisions due to which his team conceded the goal. 
“Actually the ball had already crossed the line, but the referee awarded the corner kick on Army’s favor and we conceded from the corner,’’ Katuwal said, “The scenario of the game changed because of the one mistake from the referee.’’ 
 

 
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• final