Supersub Bishal Rai scored the winner for MMC in the 11th minute of 20-minute extra time following a 1-1 draw in the regulation time. Three Star was reduced to 10 men after defender Sabindra Shrestha was sent off in the 71st minute for his second bookable offense.[break]
It was the third title of the season for MMC, which won the Gurkha Cup in Kathmandu in June and the King´s Cup in Thimphu, Bhutan in August. National champion Three Star, meanwhile, has yet to win a trophy this season.
Champion MMC bagged Rs 355,000 along with the winner´s trophy while runner-up Three Star received Rs 201,000 and trophy.
Scorer Rai, who came on as Rupesh KC´s replacement in the 55th minute, emerged the hero for MMC yet again. In the semifinal too, Rai had scored the winner with only two minutes remaining after replacing KC in the 85th minute.
Earlier, Three Star had taken the lead in the 37th minute through a superb freekick at the far post from skipper Santosh Sahukhala. Three Star was awarded the freekick after skipper Sagar Thapa fouled winger Jagjeet Shrestha.
But MMC´s Sujal Shrestha cancelled the lead two minutes before the interval through penalty. The penalty was awarded after Bikram Lama handled Yona Elias Ndbila´s volley in the danger zone.
Three Star coach Anjan KC blamed match referee Laba Khatri´s wrong decision of awarding the penalty for the defeat. "All the players did their best, but the wrong decision of awarding the penalty cost us dearly," KC said. "Though the ball had hit [Lama] on the face, the penalty was awarded." KC also lauded his team´s performance despite playing with a man down.
After taking the lead Three Star squandered many scoring chances. In the 43rd minute, winger Prakash Budhathoki strike in a one-on-one with custodian Bishal Shrestha was cleared by skipper Thapa. Four minutes into the second half, Three Star´s African recruit Leonce Dodoz failed to score with only the goalkeeper to beat. In the 59th, MMC custodian Shrestha parried Dodoz´s scorcher in Sahukhala´s pass. Goalkeeper Shrestha was declared the man-of-the-match.
MMC also failed to capitalize on the few chances it created and had to struggle until extra time for victory. In the 15th, Deepak Rai fed a pass to Anil Gurung but the latter missed the target. In the 68th Gurung again wasted a chance in a one-on-one situation with keeper Kiran Chemjong.
MMC coach Hemanta Ale said that his side was made to work hard for victory after failing to utilize scoring opportunities. "Despite playing against a 10-man opposition, we failed to take advantage," said Ale, adding that he was happy for winning the third title of the season.
MMC´s Deepak Rai was declared the best player of the tournament. He was awarded a motorbike. Similarly, MMC took the best coach award and two out of the four awards for best players in different positions. Each of them received a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
Player Award Team
Deepak Rai best player MMC
Bishal Shrestha best goalkeeperMMC
Sandip Rai best defender Three Star
Shiva Shrestha best midfielder MMC
Victor best forward HKNFA
Hemanta Ale best coach MMC
Related story
Safal International Marathon from Feb 19
