Tshering scored the decider in the 44th minute to snatch the title from Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) who had dominated the first half of the game. Tshering netted a corner kick off Sujal Shrestha. [break]
MMC fielded Nepal´s star player Anil Gurung, who plays for India´s second tier club Shillong Lajong, but were kept under constant pressure by RCT right from the beginning. RCT, however, were unlucky as they missed a good opportunity early in the first half. Shekhar Limbu hit a shot wide which was set by foreign player Patrick Erole.
Gurung also wasted a shot in the first half. MMC could have doubled the lead despite stiff opposition from RCT, which waned in the second half, but Santosh Sahukhala´s shot set by Gurung hit the post in the fading moments.
MMC coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said his team was under pressure as the players competed in the tournament right after the British Gurkha Cup without taking any rest. “We should have taken at least a week off after the British Gurkha Cup. We faced some trouble as the players were exhausted,” he said. “We also had to put in extra effort as RCT had fielded foreign player.”
MMC skipper Tshering was adjudged the best player of the tournament. Erole bagged the award for highest goals. He netted three goals in the tournament. Both players received Rs 10,000 each. Sandip Rai of MMC was declared the best defender while Prabesh Katwal of RCT bagged the award for the best midfielder. Bishal Shrestha of MMC won the award for the best goalkeeper. The winners MMC bagged a purse of Rs 100,000 while the runners-up RCT received Rs 60,000.
Anil Gurung plays for former team
National striker Anil Gurung, who is on a vacation from his Indian club Shillong Lajong, played for his former team MMC as the tournament was not held under the calendar of All Nepal Football Association.
Nepal´s national coach Krishna Thapa, who watched Gurung play, said the striker has made remarkable progress in the game. “He couldn´t perform as expected, but showed some signs of brilliance during the tournament,” said the coach.
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