KATHMANDU, Jan 29: Tribhuvan Army Club advanced into the semifinals of the Madan Bhandari International Invitational Gold Cup Football Tournament after the departmental team overcame Three Star Club 3-1 in a tie-breaker in Itahari on Monday. 

At the Itahari Stadium, Army won in the penalty shootout to knock the defending champion out of the tournament. After both the sides played a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time, the match was decided from a penalty shootout. 

Army’s Santosh Tamang, Bharat Khawas and Bibek Basnet converted the spot kicks into goals, whereas Padam Lama could not direct the ball goalwards.

Only Bikram Lama scored for Three Star. Army keeper Bikesh Kuthu brilliantly saved spot kicks of Buddha Chemjong, Rupesh KC and Ranjit Dhimal. 

Kuthu was named the man of the match for his heroic goalkeeping performance and was rewarded with Rs 10,000. 

Earlier, captain Bharat Khawas gave the lead to Army in the 58th minute, before Ananta Tamang cut short the lead 13 minutes after that. 
 

 
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