The four time champions Police defeated Himalayan Sherpa Club 1-0 in the rematch played Tuesday which was abandoned on Sunday due to heavy downpour. On Sunday, the regulation time had finished in a 1-1 stalemate and the match could not proceed further.
In another match, MMC saw off Sahara Club of Pokhara 1-0 as well with a goal from Pokhara born Shiva Shrestha. [break]
The winners Police and MMC will lock horns for a place in the final on Thursday.
The four-time champions Police took an early lead when Parbet Pandey converted a penalty in the second minute which finally turned to be the match killer. Police were awarded with the penalty after Saroj Dahal of Sherpa handled the ball in the box off Roshan Karki shot.
Soon after taking the lead, Police without five of their key players came up in a defensive style in contrast to Sherpa who played offensively. Police players Jumanu Rai, Ritesh Thapa, Rabin Shrestha, Bharat Khawas and Bhola Silwal could not join the team as they are in closed camp training of the national team for the AFC Challenge Cup to be held from April 7. Police however, created as many as four scoring chances.
Police missed a chance of doubling the advantage when Ramesh Katwal hit wide in an open post. Similarly, Himalayan custodian Rupak Shrestha denied Pankaj Shahi and Yogesh Shahi´s powerful strike in the second half.
Himalayan in a bid to hit back an equalizer made as many as a dozen powerful strikes. African footballers of Sherpa Allen Oryek, Castory D Mumbara were denied by Police goalie Bishal Shreshta twice while Nabin Neupane, Som Bahadur Malla also failed to send the ball past net despite continuous attacks.
Police coach Birat Krishana Shrestha said that they were bound to play defensive football as many of the players from their side were injured in the match on Sunday. Sherpa coach Nirmal Lama said it was unfortunate for his team to concede penalty goal during the early moments.
Similarly, in another quarterfinal of the day, Shrestha also hit the lone goal of the match in the second minute. Shrestha made a cool finish from box after he controlled a powerful 35-yard freekick and lashed a shot to stun the goalie. Shrestha was later declared the bird mobile man-of-the-match.
In the 33rd minute, Ganesh Khadka failed to double the score as he missed one-on-one position with goalie. Similarly, Khadka was denied by goalie in the 11th minute of the second half as well.
Sahara, however, frequently tried to hit back the equalizer but could not achieve the target. Pushpa Shrestha failed to hit the target in the fifth minute with only goalie Bishal Shrestha to beat. Similarly, Hem bahadur Malla and Khum Gurung also squandered scoring chances.
Three Star Club will take on defending champions Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) on Thursday in the first semifinal match.
Related story
MMC thumps NRT 4-0 to book semifinal ticket
