Uttam scored in the 36th minute through a brilliant strike from the edge of the box utilizing a failed heading clearance by a Friends defender off a free kick taken by Prabesh Katuwal.
RCT will now meet Nabil Three Star Club in the semifinal.
In a drab affair, RCT enjoyed ball possession and created more chances than Friends. RCT were on top from the beginning.
RCT´s Yogesh Gurung squandered at least a couple of opportunities to score. In the 31st minute, his shot off a cross from Deepesh Thapa Magar was saved by Rupak Shrestha. Yogesh also missed a one-versus-one chance with goalie Rupak as his ground shot hit a pole.
Rishi Rai took the rebounder and shot the ball high above the bar. RCT went into the break with the advantage.
In the 58th minute, Dipak Rai failed to give the right direction to Deepesh´s cross who had dribbled the ball from the center. Just before the final whistle, RCT had yet another opportunity but Uttam failed to outsmart goalie Rupak.
Friends too had a couple of chances toward the end of the match when they controlled the possession. Nirajan Khadka´s header went straight to RCT goalie Dilip Chhetri in the 70th minute and Santosh Maharjan failed to reach Bharat Khawas´ cross.Madhu Karki, RCT coach, was left unsatisfied. “The team failed to perform as I had expected,” Karki said, adding that the midfielders did not play well.
Friends coach Mrigendra Mishra rued lack of combination among his players. “There was lack of combination, especially in the midfield,” he said. “There were also very few moves and goal attempt.”
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