Ganesh Lawati gave APF an early eight minute lead, connecting a corner kick off Heman Gurung. Ajit Bhandari brought NPC back in the game with a 63rd minute equaliser that pushing the game into 30 minutes of extra time.

NPC earlier missed on the opportunity to seal the game when Nir Kumar Rai failed to convert the 13th minute penalty. NPC were awarded the spot kick when Ramesh Dangol tripped Bharat Shah inside the area.

As the 30 minutes of extra time too failed to break the deadlock, the penalty shootout determined the winners. Shah, Ajit Bhandari, Suman Subedi and Hari Kathayat scored for NPC. Only Lawati converted the spot kick in tie-breaker for APF. Nabin Lama and Jangbu Sherpa squandered their spot kicks. Lama ‘s shot had hit the cross bar while NPC custodian Ritesh Thapa denied Sherpa.  

Despite the win NPC’s coach Birat Krishna Shrestha was not happy his team’s performance. “The match should not have gone to tie-breaker had we not squandered so many chances,” said Shrestha.  APF coach Krishna Thapa blamed his players wasting the lead.

Hosts Nawa Janajagriti Youth Club will take on Tribhuvan Army Club for a place in the final on Wednesday.