Santosh Sahukhala, Bikram Lama, Sabindra Shrestha and Leonce Dodoz converted their penalties for Three Star after a 1-1 draw in regulation time and a goalless extra time at the Pokhara Stadium. Biraj Maharjan’s spotkick for Three Star was denied by custodian Raju Nagarkoti. [break]
Ashim Jung Karki, Adejola Jacob and
Bhupal Gurung scored for Pokhara in the tie-breaker while Sunil BK and Kumar Gurung missed their penalties.
Three Star will meet either Hong Kong Nepalese Football Association or CFC Bhutan in the semifinal on Thursday.
Earlier, Dodoz had given Three Star the lead seconds after the break, but Ashim Jung Karki scored from the area beating custodian Kiran Chemjong to bring the home team level in the 71st minute.
Dodoz had put Three Star ahead with a brilliant strike collecting a shot by skipper Sahukhala from the center soon after the second half began. Man-of-the-match Dodoz unleashed a scorcher from 35 yards sending the ball past custodian Nagarkoti.
Three Star’s newly appointed coach Anjan KC was not satisfied with the team’s performance. “The team could not play as expected. They played only one-fourth of their real game,” said KC. “Though we played for a total of 120 minutes, only 30 minutes of the game was satisfactory. As we only had a short preparation after Dashain, we were forced to work hard for victory.”
Both the teams failed to utilize some scoring chances. Three Star custodian Chemjong denied Bivek Gurung’s strike at the near post in the 29th minute. In the 38th, Sunil BK fired above the bar from close range and Karki wasted another chance in the 58th.
Three Star skipper Sahukhala’s 30th-minute strike was denied by custodian Nagarkoti and in the 37th Sahukhala’s shot deflected off the custodian’s leg.
Pokhara coach Rajendra Tamang said his side was defeated despite putting up a better performance. “To concede a goal in the eighth second of the second half became the turning point of the match,” said Tamang, “We were able to take the match to penalties as every member of the team gave his hundred percent.”
Hong Kong Nepalese Football Association faces CFC Bhutan on Tuesday.
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