Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club knocked Under-16 ANFA Academy 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 stalemate after extra time here in the 12th Aaha Rara Gold Cup on Tuesday.

In the tiebreaker captain Bimal Gharti Magar’s spot kick was well-saved by APF custodian Amrit Chaudhary while the goalkeeper added to ANFA’s misery when he palmed away Anjan Bista’s spot-kick. Hemanta Thapa and Anil Rai converted from the spot kicks but APF’s Nabin Lama, Jyangbo Sherpa, Prasanna Lama and Rajendra Rawal all converted their shots to send ANFA crashing out of the first round.

ANFA boys stunned APF by taking the 15th minute lead  through Anjan header but their lead lasted only 21 minutes as Ranjan Bista levelled the scores in the 34th minute.  “They made life difficult for us throughout the game but the players kept their nerves in the shoot-out,” said a relieved APF coach Krishna Thapa.

Anjan put ANFA ahead in the 15th minute when he headed home Hemanta Thapa’s corner from close. But APF, who finished sixth in the Martyrs Memorial Red Bull A Division League, equalised through Ranjan when his powerful header on Shyam Nepali’s corner nestled into the net in the 34th minute.

The departmental side found it difficult to breakdown ANFA’s resolute backline and missed a golden opportunity to take the lead when Lama’s close range header on Sherpa’s cross flew inches over the cross bar six minute after the hour mark.

At the other end, ANFA’s Kiran Sunar’s effort from inside the area went inches wide in the 81st minute while Hemanta’s powerful strike from the edge of the area went just over the cross bar in the first minute of extra time.

The Academy coach Bal Gopal Maharjan expressed disappointment over his side’s poor finishing but commended his players for restricting a strong Division A team. “But my players fought admirably well and restricted a strong attacking side throughout the game,” said Maharjan.

APF coach Thapa said his team needed to raise their level.  “We could not pass the ball well and we found it really difficult to create chances. We must improve in the midfield,” added Thapa.