Tribhuvan Army Club crashed out of the quarter-finals of the 16th Aaha-Rara Gold Cup football tournament after losing to Dharan Football Club 5-4 in tiebreaker in Pokhara on Sunday. 

The match was decided from the spot after the regular 90 minutes ended up in a 1-1 stalemate and the extra 20-minute remained goalless. Captain Bharat Khawas gave an early lead to the departmental giants who were chasing their fourth title of the season. Nishan Limbu stored parity for Dharan in the second half. 

It was the third meeting between the two sides and both the teams have won one match each in their previous meetings. Dharan had defeated the departmental giants 2-0 in the second edition before the Armymen had their revenge in the 12th winning 2-1. 

Dharan tested Army custodian Bikesh Kuthu in the 16th minute. Sajan Rai tactfully cut through two TAC defenders and slammed at the near post before Kuthu punched it to safety. Two minutes later Nepali international Khawas gave lead to Army after he fired George Prince Karki’s pass close from the goalline. Dharan hit back the equaliser in the 68th minute after Limbu tapped a ball from the crowded six-yard box after Army players failed to make the clearance. 

Following the equaliser, Dharan opted to go defensive to push the match to tie-breaker. Khawas could have sealed the victory for TAC in the 78th minute but he shot straight to Dharan goalkeeper after he was set inside the box by Shrestha. Luck continued to desert the Armymen as Shrestha hit the woodworks. 

In the tiebreaker, Nepali international Karki hit the woodwork in second attempt for Army while Dharan converted all five shots from the spot. Bishnu Sunwar, Nishan Limbu, Buddhiman Rai, Roman Limbu and Suraj BK were all successful for Dharan in the penalty. Army’s Shrestha, Deepak Gurung, Deep Lama and Bivek Basnet were on target from the spot. Scorer Limbu of Dharan was declared man-of-the-match. 

TAC coach Nabin Neupane said that his team was exhausted playing one after another match. “The boys took the match lightly after taking first half lead. Dharan played team game but my boys played individually and the opponents took advantage of it,” he added. In the third quarter-final on Monday, Nepal Armed Police Force Club will take on Three Star Club who are fresh from winning the Itahari Gold Cup on Saturday.