Ranjan Bista struck a hat-trick as Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club hammered Nawa Jana Jagriti Club of Simara 4-0 in the inaugural game of the Pokhara Cup football tournament on Tuesday.

Bista opened the scoring for the departmental team early in the third minute, capitalizing on a pass from Santosh Shrestha. APF added two more goals in the first half to all but seal the match. It was Bista again to add to the APF tally in the 17th minute. He darted down the centre of the field, cut past Nawa Jana Jagriti defender Sanjay Rajbahak before slamming home his second goal.

APF would have been 3-0 up in the 35th minute only for Nabin Lama to miss a sitter. However, Lama made amends for the missed opportunity eight minute later by adding the third goal for APF. Man-of-the-match Bista then completed his hat-trick, heading home in the 48th minute on a cross from Santosh Shrestha.

APF coach Janak Singh Tharu said his should have added more goals but for some close misses. “We played really well but we also missed out on scoring more goals. The APF coach said his side took advantage of the porous Nawa Janagriti defense.

APF have participated in all four edition of this tournament, making it to the semi-finals once and eliminated in the quarter-finals on three other occasions. APF will now play departmental arch-rival Nepal Police Club next.

Nawa Janajagriti coach Dadhik Chhetri said his team was a combination of youth and experienced which resulted into team lacking in coordination. “Players lost their composure and leaky defense also did not help our cause,” added the coach of the team that recently won the fifth Simara Gold Cup.

Jhapa-XI will take on Rupandehi-XI on Wednesday.