After both the teams failed to break the deadlock in the 90-minute and additional 30 minutes of extra time, the match was pushed to tie-breaker.

The scores were still tied on 4-4 in tie breaker before the match was decided in the sudden death. Bikesh Kuthu blocked the shot from Three Star skipper Sagar Thapa before Yuddha Shahi converted from the spot to hand TAC a memorable victory.

Bikram Lama and Saroj Dahal had scored for Three Star, while Bikash Tamang and Kuthu found the back of the net in the sudden death for TAC. In the tie breaker, Jitendra Karki, Santosh Tamang, Nawayug Shrestha and Tek Bahadur Budhathoki scored for the Armymen with Deepak Gurung shooting off

the target.

Kuthu was the star of the day denying Khadka from the spot. Sahukhala, Prakash Budhathoki, Rajin Dhimal and Bijaya Dhimal had hit the target in tie-breaker. It was TAC’s second title this year after winning the Simara Gold Cup. Meanwhile, Three Star’s tie breaker voodoo continued as they had also lost to Nepal Police Club in Manakamana Cable Car Gold Cup in Pokhara.

Earlier, Three Star failed to cash in on the massive support out of the 15,000 locals who had turned up for the game to back the Lalitpur-based outfit. TAC played much of the 30-minute extra time with 10 men after Deep Lama limped off the field due to injury with the departmental side already using all their substitutes.

Budhathoki was close to giving TAC a lead in the 20th minute but his powerful shot crashed against the bar. Kuthu was at his best, making a diving save to deny Khadka’s header off a Sahukhala free kick in the first half of the extra time. Three Star’s frustration continued as Prakash Budhathoki was denied by the cross bar.

The Armymen collected a cash purse of Rs 300,000 and Three Star got

Rs 150,000. Kuthu walked away with the best player’s award pocketing Rs 11,000. Bishnu Sunwar of Three Star was named the man-of-the-final.