KATHMANDU, Feb 24: Manang Marshyangdi Club was gifted semifinal ticket of the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup on Friday after bottom of the table Mohammedan Sporting Club of Bangladesh produced 2-1 win over Shahneen Asmayee FC of Afghanistan.
A draw or defeat of Mohammedan would have sent Manang packing home after the Nepali outfit faced a 2-2 draw against home team Chittagong Abhani Limited despite producing 2-0 lead in its last group match on Friday.
Following the outcomes, Manang confirmed its place in the last four as group B runner up finishing behind Chittagong Abhani. Manang finished group stage with four points, one behind Chittagong Abhani and equal four points as that of Mohammedan. However, Manang secured semifinal stage by the virtue of head-to-head superiority over Mohammedan. Manang had defeated Mohammedan 2-1 in its opening match.
MMC thumps NRT 4-0 to book semifinal ticket
Nepal's football giant will now face TC Sports Club of Maldives which has enrolled Nepal's first choice goalie Kiran Chemjong since last one month.
In the match played at MA Aziz stadium, Chittagong, African recruit Olawale Afeez netted two first half goals while Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and Augustin Walson replied for Chittagong.
Manang took early lead in the match when Olawale headed in the 13th minute in a header pass set by skipper Anil Gurung. Olawale doubled the advantage for visiting Manang in the 23rd minute collecting a long pass of Rohit Chand.
Chittagong cut the deficit in the 32nd minute with Nasir Uddin Chowdhury's goal after he was set by Jamal Bhuiyan.
Manang's hope of making semifinal in its own was shattered in the 62nd minute when Chittagong was awarded penalty in the 62nd minute after Devendra Tamang handed ball inside the danger zone. Chittagong's forward Augustin Walson made no mistake from the spot to make the score line 2-2.
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