Defending champions Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) beat WMMC 2-1 as all three goals came during the last five minutes of the match. Antolo Angomur put RCT ahead in the fading moments and Shekhar Limbu doubled the tally for the holders in the first minute of stoppage time. Pale Khadka hit the consolation goal for WMMC a minute later.[break]
RCT will now take on three-time champions Three Star Club in the semifinal on Wednesday.
Angomur put RCT ahead through a powerful free-kick from the edge of the box. RCT were awarded the free-kick after a WMMC player handled the ball.
During the injury time Limbu put up a brilliant show when he dribbled around two players and beat goalie Sangsang Maharjan to double the advantage. Soon after, Khadka sent the ball past the net from the box, but it could not avoid his side´s defeat.
Both the teams came up in aggressive style from the beginning but could not find the back of the net in the first half. The holders RCT could not play as per the expectations of spectators gathered at the stadium. Despite getting multiple chances they failed to utilize scoring opportunities on many occasions due to poor finishing.
Satish Rajbhandari´s powerful strike in the 19th minute was headed by Susan Lama and Angomur´s free-kick was punched to safety by WMMC custodian Maharjan. In the 40th minute, Limbu could not meet Prabesh Katuwal´s pass with only the goalie to beat.
Likewise, they also squandered about half-a-dozen other scoring chances.
WMMC, coming up without Nirajan Rayamajhi who had scored a hat-trick in their previous match against Namchi Football Club of Sikkim, also created about half-a-dozen chances.
RCT goalie Dilip Chhetri caught Jeetendra Karki´s header in the 16th minute and he again denied Pale Khadka´s powerful strike two minutes later. Karki hit off the target in the 27th minute, and goalie Chhetri also denied Govinda Maharjan and Siddhi Shrestha as well.
WMMC coach Sanjay Shrestha pointed out failure to score against defending champions as the reason behind the defeat. He also said the absence of his key player Nirajan Rayamajhi due to injuries during training was a setback for his team. "The junior boys of our side could not play well and we also failed to utilize scoring opportunities," Shrestha said.
RCT coach Madhu Karki expressed dissatisfaction toward his side´s performance despite the victory. "Most of the members of the squad are new and the forward line-up was very weak, so we could not utilize scoring opportunities. Had there been stronger opponents we could not have won."
On Tuesday, Nepal Police Club will play against Himalayan Sherpa Club in the replay of the match that was abandoned due to heavy rainfall on Sunday, while Sahara Club of Pokhara will take on Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in the second match.
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