Red Horse Club of Ilam beat Pomu Kechang Sporting Club of Taplejung 3-0 in the inaugural match of the Pathivara Gold Cup football tournament in Phungling on Thursday.

Papua New Guinea national Fofana Fode struck twice and captain Pasang Sherpa scored the another goal in the knockout tournament.

Sherpa gave Red Horse the lead early in the eighth minute as his shot from 25-yard took a slight defection off diving opposition goalkeeper to enter the net. Fofana doubled their lead in the 17th minute after sprinting from the left towards the area before firing in at the far post. The striker made the game same scoring his second goal in the 26th minute, this time in a goal-mouth melee. Fofana was adjudged man-of-the-match and earned Rs 5,000.

HostsTaplejung XI will take on Belbari Club on Friday. In all 10 teams areparticipating in the tournament including an invitee UK FC of Darjeeling. Thechampions will receive Rs 311,000 and the runners-up will earn Rs 151,000. The final is scheduled for August 23.