Krishna Shakya, Rabin Byanjankar, Sanjog Chamling and Sushil Shah converted for Jawalakhel in the tiebreaker. Suwarna Limbu and Kiran Rai were the only players to achieve the target for Dharan as Ripesh Gurung was denied by custodian Sanam Feland and Dilen Limbu fired off the target. [break]Feland of Jawalakhel was declared the man-of-the-match.
Coincidentally, Dharan had crashed out from the first match in all the previous editions as well. Earlier in the first half Dharan squandered a golden scoring chance after Bivek Gurung´s 27th minute penalty hit the woodwork. The penalty was awarded after Sushil Shah of Jawalakhel handled the ball in the danger zone.
Dharan Football Club (Red) vs Jawalakhel Youth Club. (Photo: Santosh Pokharel)
Dharan´s manager Bikram Lama termed the missed penalty as unfortunate for the team. "There were some junior players in the squad and they could not play as per the expectations. Besides, the strikers also failed to utilize scoring opportunities," Lama said during the post-match conference.
Suwarna Limbu twice squandered scoring chances for Dharan in the 40th and 61st minutes. Similarly, Sudip Rai´s flicked header in Surendra Tamang´s corner sailed off the target.
Meanwhile, Jawalakhel said that it was unable to win in the regulation time as the players failed to capitalize on scoring chances. In the 18th minute, Suraj Rai failed to score in a one-on-one with the custodian. In the 23rd minute, Saral Lama´s shot was denied by Dharan custodian Roshan Khadka. Sushil Shah´s freekick in the 68th minute rebounded off the woodwork.
Jawalakhel´s coach Rajaram Karki said his side could not play as expected due to the absence of over half a dozen key players as they were busy in the A division league in Kathmandu. Karki also expressed dissatisfaction over the team´s performance in the second half.
"I am not happy with the team´s performance in the second half. They failed to utilize scoring chances," said Karki. Jawalakhel has lost to MMC in the final of the last edition.
Nepal Army Club will lock horns with Friends Club on Wednesday.
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