Himalayan Sherpa Club defeated Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club 3-2 in penalty shootout to enter the quarter-finals of the Jhapa Gold Cup here on Monday.

The match was pushed to tiebreaker after 90 minutes of normal and 30 minutes of extra time had ended on a 2-2 stalemate. Goalkeeper Kishor Giri was the hero of the day for Sherpas blocking shots from Sudeep Sikhrakar and Santosh Katwal. Milan Rai had hit the post. For Sherpas, Heman Gurung, Nirajan Khadka and Nishan Limbu converted from the spot, while Sunil Bal and Bhupal Gurung went off target.

It was a deserving victory for Sherpas who rallied from two goals down to level the game. After a goalless first, APF went ahead through Yubaraj Khadka, who also made it 2-0 with 25 minutes left in the game. But Sunil Bal and Nishan Limbu struck few minutes before whistle to force extra time.

It was custodian Giri who had kept Sherpas alive in

the first half making numerous saves, one of them a close range header from Rajendra Rawal in the 38th minute.

The departmental side went ahead 10 minutes after the resumption when Khadka met a cross from Sikhrakar and the forward made a cool finish from the area.

Sherpas were left with a tedious ask when Khadka struck again in the 75th minute, this time cashing in on a pass from Nabin Lama. As APF neared victory, Bal reduced the deficit for Sherpas making full use of a mistake from APF goalie Amrit Chaudhary in the 87th minute. A minute later, Limbu levelled the game scoring on a header from Heman. APF kept pressing for the lead in the extra time but Sherpas goalie Giri denied them.

On Tuesday, Tribhuvan Army Club will take on Rupandehi XI.