KATHMANDU, May 3: Saraswati Youth Club has advanced into the final of the second Roj Bahini Chandragiri Gold Cup football tournament with 1-0 win over A-Division League opponent Jawalakhel Youth Club in Chandragiri on Thursday. 

In the first semifinal played at the Naikap Football Ground in Naikap, an own goal was all that was required for Saraswati to claim the win and reach the final. 

Saraswati will now take on the winner of the second semifinal match between the departmental team Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Chyasal Youth Club which will be played on Friday. The final will be held on Sunday. 

The goal came early in the second minute as the miscommunication between Shrestha and Jawalakhel keeper Arun Tamang saw Shrestha score into his own net. 

Shrestha tried to give a back-pass to his keeper, but as Tamang was out of his position, the ball entered into his own net. 

After Jawalakhel went down early on, it switched its attacking mode on as it tried to create pressure to Saraswati throughout the match. 

Daniel Beke hit a shot in the fourth minute, but it went over the bar, while keeper Tamang gave a long ball to his forward Fode Fofana, but the shot from outside the box went just over the bar. 
Captain Raj Kumar Ghising hit a free-kick in the first half injury time, but the ball went wide. But, the first half ended with Jawalakhel going 1-0 down. 

Saraswati got some other chances too as Amit Lama gave a long pass to Sujit Budathoki in the 49th minute, and Jawalakhel keeper saved it comfortably. Budathoki missed a one vs one chance in the 63rd minute, while Daniel’s shot a minute later went over the bar. 

Jawalakhel missed a chance to equalize in the 72nd minute as Dainiel’s shot from inside the box hit the post and returned only to be cleared away. 

Saraswati’s Oko Bota was named the man of the match and was rewarded with Rs 5,000. 
 

 
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