Suraj Raut and Victor scored second-half goals for Hong Kong at the Pokhara Stadium to set up a semifinal clash with national champion Three Star Club on Thursday.
Raut opened the scoring for Hong Kong five minutes after the break. CFC goalkeeper Bishal Roy dropped Yugal Kishor Rai´s header from the area in Ibrahim Ederumi´s corner and Raut pounced on the opportunity to put his side into the lead.[break]
African recruit Victor killed off the match with a solo effort during the second-half stoppage time. Victor sprinted with the ball a long way from the center and fired into an open net after beating custodian Roy. Naren Limbu of Hong Kong was declared the man of the match.
The Bhutanese team crashed out in its very first match as it failed to score despite getting numerous chances. CFC´s first chance came in the fourth minute but Cyril Rai´s header toward an unattended goal post from the six-yard box was cleared by Sujan Rana Magar. Sandip Rai wasted a similar opportunity in the 24th when he headed wide after beating goalkeeper Min Basnet.
In the 32nd, custodian Basnet made a finger-tip save to deny Bikey Kaidhem´s solo effort. Prakash failed to collect a cross from Rai in the 71st providing ample time for Hong Kong to clear it.
Hong Kong also wasted numerous chances. In the 17th, Victor´s strike from close range rebounded off custodian Roy and defender Peter cleared it. In the 33rd, Victory headed inches above the bar in Raut´s cross. Five minutes later, Victor´s one-touch scorcher in Krishna Kunwar´s pass was denied by custodian Roy. Victor also missed a one-on-one chance after the hour mark.
CFC coach Bimal Mukhiya said his side failed to play to its potential. "As we arrived in Pokhara on Monday, we were exhausted and it was difficult to play the first match," Mukhiya said. "We also failed to utilize numerous scoring opportunities. We were able to play well for the first 20 minutes only."
According to Mukhiya, the team featured two national players of Bhutan, including Yeshi Wangchuk. "Though we had planned to field other national players, we could not bring them at the last moment," said Mukhiya.
Despite the victory, Hong Kong coach Rajiv Hirachan was not satisfied with the team´s performance. "The midfield could not fulfill its duty before the interval and we missed several chances in the second half," said Hirachan.
Defending champion Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) takes on Nepal Army Club in the semifinal on Wednesday.
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