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DHANGADHI, Feb 25: Gorkha Boys football team has entered the quarter-finals of the ongoing fourth edition of Nepal Ice Sudur Paschim International Invitational Khaptad Gold Cup after defeating Sunaulo Sangam in penalty shootout on Monday.
In a match played at Dhangadhi Stadium, Sangam football club’s captain Manoj Thapa missed from the spot-kick after the match finished on a goal-less stalemate in regular time. Sangam lost the match 5-3 in penalty kicks.
Hari Kathayat, Anish Tamang, Randip Paudel, Nishan Nyaupane and captain Uttam Gurung converted their respective kicks to secure the win for the Gorkha Boys. Similarly, Ranjit Thapa, Ajit Thapa and Shankar Nyaupane scored for the losing team with skipper Thapa’s strike saved by the Gorkha Boys goalie Manoj Gurung.
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Earlier, Suraj Ghalan had missed a golden opportunity to put Gorkha Boys ahead in the third minute of the match after his shot missed the target off a pass produced by Roshan Rana.
Similarly, the Gorkha Boys goal-keeper denied the scoring in the 19th minute saving an attempt from Sangam’s Mohan.
Gorkha Boys had another close chance to take the lead but squandered the opportunity in the 50th minute. Kathayat’s delicately executed shot had beaten Sunaulo goalie Kiran Thapa before ricocheting off the post. Kathayat, who scored from the spot during the penalty shootout later on, looked the best bet for Gorkha Boys to score in the match. His header in the 59th minute went over the cross-bar.
The match continued to entertain the crowd with Sangam’s effort in the 57th minute was agonizingly short from opening the scoring.
Sangam head coach Bikash Gurung rued the lack of rest and recovery period for the players as the main reason for the lackluster performance. The team had travelled on Sunday night to play a match on Monday.
The quarter-final matches will start from Tuesday with Kanchanjunga Football Club (India) facing the local club Sudur Paschim XI. Kanchanjunga had defeated Bagmati Football Club in the pre-quarters to reach the last eight whereas Sudur Paschim was seeded directly in the round. Similarly, the departmental teams Nepal Police Club and Armed Police Force will face each other in a mouthwatering clash on Wednesday. Likewise, the A-Division outfit Three Star Club will face Nava Jagruti Club in the third quarter-final match on Thursday. Finally, the winning team Gorkha Boys will face A-Division club Himalayan Sherpa on Friday to complete the round.
