Thunderbolt North United, a visiting side from Sikkim, India, defeated two-time champions Sankata Club 3-1 on Friday to secure their spot in the quarter-finals of the 24th Aaha-Rara Gold Cup.

The match played at Pokhara Stadium saw Franklin Quete Tala, Karan Rai, and Adarsha Tamang netting crucial goals for Thunderbolt, while Sankata’s Manish Paudel managed a consolation strike.

Sankata drew first blood in the 17th minute when Manish Paudel scored on a pass from Pasang Lama. However, Thunderbolt responded in the 35th minute as Franklin Quete Tala converted a penalty, leaving Sankata’s goalkeeper Deep Karki with no chance. The teams went into halftime level at 1-1, but Thunderbolt turned up the heat in the second half.

Karan Rai put Thunderbolt ahead in the 77th minute with a well-placed finish, giving them the lead. Then, in the 89th minute, Adarsha Tamang sealed the victory with a brilliant long-range shot into the empty net after Sankata’s goalkeeper, Deep Karki, had come off his line.

With this win, Thunderbolt advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face Uzbekistan’s Black Bulls on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the first quarter-final on Saturday will feature Nepal Police Club, who defeated hosts Sahara, taking on Brigades Boys Club UK that received a direct entry into the last eight.