Hosts Jhapa XI shoot Three Star Club out 4-3 in tiebreaker to enter the final of the Jhapa Gold Cup football tournament at the Domalal Rajbanshi Ground on Friday.

The match was pushed to the penalty shootout straight after the regulation time ended in a goalless deadlock. Jhapa will take on the winners of Saturdays’ second semi-final match between Manang Marshyangdi Club and Tribhuvan Army Club. The final is on Monday.

Karna Limbu, Bhusan Subba, Yogesh Gurung and Devendra Tamang converted from the spot for Jhapa while Three Star custodian Alan Neupane blocked a shot from Bishwas Shrestha.  For Three Star only Rajin Dhimal, Nirajan Khadka and Bijay Dhimal scored from the spot. Buddha Chamjong and Sunil Bal shot off target to hand victory to the hosts.

Ajayi Martins gave Three Star a bright start when his strike rammed the upright early in the 11th minute. Jhapa responded in the 30th minute when Bishal Rai’s powerful shot was acrobatically denied by Three Star goalkeeper Neupane. Rai also came close to giving hosts the lead in the 60th minute only to see his attempt pass a whisker away from target. 

Jhapa goalie Kishor Giri was also called into action when he denied Deepak Rai in the 65th minute. Jhapa got a huge reprieve two minutes later when Dilen Loktan cleared the ball from the goalline. With Jhapa keeper already beaten Buddha Chemjong pushed the ball towards the goalline but Chemjong made a timely intervention to keep the hosts in the match. 

Jhapa coach Prabesh Katuwal credited the victory to the team work. “It remarkable to beat one of the best teams of the country. I am proud of the effort that my team put on,” said Katuwal. Three Star coach Megh Raj KC said his team crashed out despite putting up a great performance. “Tiebreaker is all about luck and luck deserted us,” summed up KC.

Friends in quarters

BUTWAL: Friends Club pipped Kaski XI 1-0 to advance to the quarter-finals of the Tilottama Gold Cup football tournament on Friday. Jonal Glory scored the only goal of the match in the 29th minute. Barsat Gurung of Friends  Club was named man-of-the-match and earned Rs 11,000. Hosts Rupandehi XI will take on Nawalparasi XI ‘B’ on Saturday. (PR)