Despite failing to convert their first three spot-kicks, MMC were able to register their first win over the departmental giants in four encounters. They had lost all of their last three matches against Police.[break]
The MMC squad erupted with joy when Police´s Pradip Baniya hit the second spot-kick of sudden death above the bar. Earlier, the tiebreaker had finished 2-2 after a goalless 90 minutes. Sujal Shrestha converted the last spot-kick for MMC after his teammate Sulav Maskey and Police´s Suman Subedi also scored from the spot.
Police saw an almost sure victory slipping through their hands when their skipper Jumanu Rai missed the fifth spot-kick, which leveled the score at 2-2 in the tie-breaker. Had Rai succeeded, Police would have won the match.
"I had not imagined that star players would miss the penalty," said Police coach Hari Khadka, who took charge of the team about a couple of months ago after coach Birat Krishna Shrestha quit the job at Police.
Earlier, Santosh Sahukhala, the highest paid footballer in domestic football, missed the first spot-kick for MMC, and so did Anjan KC and Nirajan Khadka. Sahukhala hit above the bar, KC´s shot was brilliantly saved by police custodian Ritesh Thapa and Khadka hit the woodwork.
Parbat Pandey easily converted the first penalty for Police but Roshan Karki and Bhola Silwal failed to score the second and third. Karki hit above the bar while Silwal´s shot deflected after hitting the pole.
MMC skipper Tashi Tshering and Naresh KC scored the fourth and fifth spot-kicks, while Yogesh Shrestha converted the fourth for Police.
"At least they should have hit the ball inside the frame," a disappointed Khadka said.
Earlier, in an interesting show during regulation time, both the teams created some attractive moves but failed to create clinical finishes, a common problem in Nepali football.
MMC players celebrates victory. (Photo: Dipesh Shrestha)
In the 12th minute, Rabin Shrestha headed from the goal-line to prevent MMC´s Sahukhala from scoring when goalie Ritesh Thapa had already been beaten.
Sahukhala had cleverly chipped the ball toward the net from the box.
A minute later, Police were denied the lead when Pandey´s brilliant free-kick was punched to safety by in-form custodian Bishal Shrestha, who picked injuries to his left elbow during the second half of extra time. Shrestha resumed his duty after first-aid treatment on the ground.
In the 31st minute, Police skipper Rai´s curling shot went inches wide from the pole, and in the 64th minute they again narrowly missed taking the lead when Ganesh Khadka of MMC headed to clear Suman Subedi´s header when an inattentive goalie Shrestha was nowhere near the ball. Subedi had collected the ball off Pandey´s corner-kick.
Bijay Gurung and Sahukhala each missed a scoring chance in either half for MMC. During the 13th minute of extra time, Sahukhala squandered a scoring opportunity when his feeble strike from a close range was easily taken by goalie Thapa. Two minutes earlier, Deepak Bhusal´s 25-yard powerful free-kick was punched away by Thapa.
"I had expected to beat Police by a three-goal margin inside regulation time," MMC coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said, and termed his side lucky. "We were lucky to level the score during the tie-breaker despite failing to convert the first three spot-kicks."
MMC will now take on the winners between Three Star Club and Jawalakhel Youth Club, who lock horns on Thursday in the second semifinal, for the title decider on Saturday.
Sahukhala misses first penalty career
Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) striker Santosh Sahukhala on Wednesday failed to score from the spot for the first time in his career. Sahukhala is considered to be the most trusted player among contemporary footballers when it comes to taking spot-kicks.
"This is the first time in my career that I missed a spot-kick. However, I am not much disappointed as my team won the match. It would have been more disgraceful for me had my team lost the match even if I had scored," Sahukhala said after the match. "Failing to convert a spot-kick for the first time in my career has upset me. However, the win has given me some relief."
Analyzing the off-the-target penalty that he took, Sahukhala said, "I saw goalie Ritesh Thapa moving so I changed the direction. But it was my misfortune that the ball flew above the bar."
Related story
Real Madrid snatch 2-1 comeback win at Bayern
