MORANG, April 6: Ruslan Three Star Club has advanced into the semifinals of the ongoing fifth Birat Gold Cup football tournament defeating Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club 2-1 in the last quarterfinal match on Thursday.
At the Shahid Stadium, Three Star was a goal down after Manang’s Bishal Rai scored the opener in the 19th minute, but two goals from Bimal Gharti Magar and Martins Ajayi in the 72nd and 75th minutes respectively sent Three Star into the last four.
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Both the teams got plenty of good chances to score more, but failed to capitalize on it. Magar controlled the ball and passed to Martins, but the latter was caught offside in the 13th minute. Subhash Gurung’s shot in the 22nd minute was deflected off to a corner kick, while Martins’ effort in the 25th minute was saved by Manang goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha.
Manang got another chance when Rai gave a pass to Anjan Bista, but Bista failed to connect his overhead kick with the ball.
Gurung was again on the radar when his shot was beautifully saved by Three Star goalkeeper Alan Neupane. Then, Martins and Magar’s goal killed the game and Manang failed to make any good attacks for the goal.
Three Star got another chance when Heman Gurung passed the ball to Bista, but Bista’s poor finishing saw the ball go wide.
Manang and Three Star also met in the final of the third Madan Bhandari Gold Cup two days back when Three Star defeated Manang 2-1 to clinch the title.
