Nepal Police Club advanced into the final of the Aaha-Rara Gold Cup football tournament for a record 11th time after they edged out Martyrs Memorial A-Division League Champions Church Boys United 1-0 at the Pokhara Stadium in Pokhara on Wednesday.

Sanjeev Lama’s second-half strike in the tournament’s 250th game proved decisive, sending the departmental side into their first final in six years. Police played the final last time in 2020 when they lost to Manang Marshyangdi Club 4-3 on penalties.

Police will now turn their attention to securing a record-extending sixth title when they face the winners of Thursday’s second semi-final match between Black Bulls FC of Uzbekistan and Three Star Club in Saturday’s final.

The departmental giants won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2002, when it was known as the Caravan Gold Cup, and went on to claim five more, including a hat-trick of titles when they successfully defended their crown in 2009 and 2010.

Police and Manang remain the joint-most successful teams in Aaha-Rara history, having each lifted the trophy six times. However, Manang have not competed in this edition. Police, in contrast, have featured in 23 of the 24 editions of the tournament, missing only the 2007 edition.

In a cagey opening 45 minutes, both Police and Church Boys struggled to create any clean chances.

However, the game sprung into life in the 58th minute when Lama took advantage of a poor clearance from Raj Bhusal and rifled a stunning 25-yard volley past Church Boys’ goalkeeper Tikendra Singh Thapa.

Church Boys nearly found the equaliser in the 69th minute, weaving wave after wave of relentless pressure but Police defenders held their ground to preserve their lead. Abayomi Fakunle initiated the attack when he danced through the Police defence line with some help from Nabin Lama before reconnecting back to Lama with a clever backheel. Lama sent a low drive from near the penalty spot but Prajwol Chaudhary denied the effort. Police’s Sanjeev Lama scrambled to clear the ball away from the box but it directly fell in the foot of captain Serge Dicka. With a moment’s instinct, Dicka unleashed a thunderous strike from distance forcing a diving save from Police goalkeeper Satrudhan Chaudhary.

Police then held firm to see out the victory and book their place in the final.