Himalayan Sherpa Club (HSC), the winner of the Knockout Football Tournament crashed out from the group stage after they gave continuity to draw in the third match.[break] They played a goalless draw to Friends Club, paving the latter a way for knockout stage as the group runners up.
Police topped the group with five points and two draws while Friends finished second with four points having a win, draw and defeat. HSC finished third with three draws and Swayambhu hit the bottom with two draws and a defeat.
The match between Police and Swayambhu turned out to be controversial and after referee Bikash Mahat cancelled an injury time goal scored by Swayambhu player Pushpa Chhetri through his hand. Mahat and assistant referees had signaled it as goal in the beginning but after the protest of Police players and officials cancelled the goal. Police had not re-started the match until the goal was canceled. Referee also awarded yellow card to Chhetri.
A minute later referee blew the final whistle.
Referee assessor and senior referee Surendra Sikhrakhar defended the referee´s move saying it as justifiable. "A referee has the right to cancel goal if he realizes his decision is wrong until he has not restarted the match," Sikhrakhar said.
In support of his argument, he also produced FIFA Law of Football. The clause five of Law of Referee states, "The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match."
Following the completion of match, the furious players of Swayambhu misbehaved with the referee and attempted to manhandle him. The officials of the club also protested strongly against referee´s decision.
The next match of the day held between HSC and Friends Club was interrupted for about 17 minutes due to the protest of Swayambhu players and officials. The irate supporters of Swayambhu also chanted slogans against the organizer ANFA and the referee.
Earlier, Police had piled up consistence pressure against Swayambhu from beginning until the finish of the match. But they could not materialize their dream of scoring. Police created more than a dozen scoring chances but the heroic display by goalie Suman Legal and the stubborn defending lineup prevented them from scoring any goal.
In the 39th minute, Bhola Silwal´s powerful strike hit the woodwork. Earlier, in the fifth minute Yogesh Shrestha´s strike was defended by Prabin Kumar Shrestha from the goalline. A minute before interval, Pankaj Shahi´s strike was denied by goalie with difficulty. A minute after the interval Suman Subedi´s bouncing header went above the bar.
In the 84th minute, Swayambhu denied three continuous strikes.
Police coach Hari Khadka said that his side failed to grab opportunities despite getting plenty of them. He also claimed that opponents succeeded in their defensive strategy.
Khadka´s counterpart Bikram Lama slammed the referee´s decision citing it as unfair. "The referee´s decision was unfair and we cannot accept his decision," the disappointed coach said.
In another match between Friends and HSC both teams created a couple of scoring chances but failed to convert them. Deepak Rai missed one-on-one with goalie in the 43rd minute for HSC and in 73rd minute Rai´s low ball strike was dived and blocked by goalie Rupak Shrestha and in rebound Jagajit Shrestha´s shot was defended by Sunil Raut.
Friends coach Parash Chaudhary expressed his satisfaction towards the draw. "Our strategy of making it to semifinal succeeded." HSC coach Upendra Man Singh said that though his team failed in scoring they put up a good show in the tournament.
Related story
Could we be any more excited? ‘Friends’ fans nuts for merch
