DHARAN, Feb 18: Nepal Police Club, the four-time winner of Budhasubba Red Bull Gold Cup, has reached the quarterfinals of the tournament defeating host Dharan Yellow of Dharan Football Club in sudden death on Friday.
The match played at ANFA Technical Center was dragged to penalty shootout after it ended in a 1-1 draw in regular time. However, penalty shootout also failed to be decisive as both sides scored five goals each. Hence, it was then pushed to the sudden death where Police sealed the win. The sudden death was prolonged to five shots each and Police converted all of them while Dharan missed the fifth shot. The departmental side will now take on Indian opponent United Sikkim FC in the quarterfinal on February 20.
In the penalty shootout, Police's Ajit Bhandari, Tej Tamang, Buddha Lama, Jumanu Rai and Abhisek Rijal converted their penalties while Dorje Tamang, Binod Rai, Riwash Maskey, Joshan Rai and Yogesh Rai scored for Dharan.
Police into Budhasubba Gold Cup semis
Similarly, in the sudden death, Nir Kumar Rai, Bhola Silwal, Hem Tamang, Man Bahadur Pariyar and Bikram Dhimal all successfully converted their shots into the goals for Police. Dharan's Manoj Rai, Roman Limbu, Tirtha Basnet and Hem Limbu scored for the home side but Bibek Rai's shot was saved by Police's goalie Roshan Khadka, as the departmental side sealed victory.
Earlier, Dharan had gone ahead in the game with Yogesh Rai's free kick goal in the 16th minute. Dharan was provided free kick after Police's player fouled Tirtha Basnet of the home team. Then Yogesh scored a brilliant free kick goal from 25 yards. Police produced the equalizer just 30 seconds before the normal time with Bikarm Dhimal scoring a header utilizing Abhisek Rijal's cross. The last minute goal from Police pushed the match to the penalty shootout.
Dharan missed many goal scoring opportunities in the normal time. Bartaman Rai had a golden chance to give early lead to Dharan in the ninth minute but he couldn't score in a one-versus-one situation as his shot went wide. Just two minutes before the second half, Dharan missed another chance to score after Teertha Basnet's close range effort was denied by Police goalkeeper Roshan Khadka. Police also had a handful of scoring chances in the first half, most notably when Abhisek Rijal was allowed to attempt free header but that was punched by Dharan's goalie Purna Chemjong. In the 84th minute, Police missed another chance to produce goal when Jumanu Rai's powerful shot from the edge of the penalty box was saved by Dharan's goalkeeper Purna Chemjong. Dharan's Hem Limbu was declared man-of-the-match and rewarded with Rs 5000.
Meanwhile Police's head coach Kumar Katwal expressed his dissatisfaction toward the organizer for not adding extra time after the match ended in a draw in regular 90 minutes. He also said that his players failed to play up to their mark. “It was a very competitive match as Dharan played well,” said head coach Katwal.
Meanwhile, Dharan's head coach Subash KC said that his players lacked experience as his team faced defeat. “Defense was below par today and strikers also couldn't hold the ball and their finishing also was very poor,” said head coach KC. On Saturday, Udayapur Gold Cup winner Rupandehi XI will take on Kakarbhitta Training Center.
