Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) laboured to a 2-1 win over Himalayan Sherpa Club in the eighth Simara Gold Cup semi-final match in Bara on Thursday.

Tanka Basnet scored one goal for the Armymen but another came courtesy an own goal from Man Bahadur Gurung. Heman Gurung struck for the Sherpas in the all A-Division clash. The victory meant TAC will take on Sankata Club, who won their semi-final match against defending champions Bijay Youth Club on Wednesday, in the championship showdown on Saturday.

Army kept Sherpas under pressure from the very beginning but they had to wait until 42nd minute to score the goal after wasting several scoring opportunities. National team strikers Bharat Khawas and Nawayug Shrestha squandered quite a few goal scoring chances before Army took the lead through an own goal. Padam Tamang struck the woodwork and the rebound hit the body of helpless Gurung before the ball kissed the net. 

Army should have doubled their tally three minutes later when Khawas failed to convert a pass from Nawayug. The missed appeared to be costly as Heman Gurung scored an equaliser four minutes into the first half injury time. A 25-yard strike from Heman sailed into the net leaving Army goalie hardly any time to react.

However the departmental team was saved by a 57th minute winner from Tanka Basnet, who slammed home a rebound from a Sherpa defender. Khawas should have eased the TAC nerves but yet again failed to find the back of the net in the 69th minute, instead hitting the upright. But the Army survived some nervy last moments to book the title date with Sankata.

Army coach Nabin Neupane rued the poor finishing from his strikers. “We had to battle for the victory after squandering several easy scoring opportunities,” said Neupane. Sherpas coach Bikash Manandhar said his team could not come up with their usual flair against the Army team.