Jhapa defeated neighbouring team Ilam 2-1 in the Pathivara Gold Cup football tournament in Phungling on Sunday.

In a match where all three goals were scored in the second half, African recruits Ajayi Martins and Glory scored for Jhapa in the space of five minutes. Ilam pulled off a consolation goal in the dying moments of the match through Bijay Dhimal.

Jhapa were bolstered by the inclusion of three African recruits along with a few of the settled names in domestic football and they took control of the match from the onset. However, they couldn’t manage to break through in an entertaining first half where Ilam also missed chances.

Jhapa went ahead 10 minutes after resumption when Martins collected a rebound from Ilam goalkeeper inside the 10-yard box after he fumbled a shot from Karna Limbu. Martins made no mistake converting from the close range. Five minutes later, Glory made it 2-0 scoring from the area. Limbu, the nomadic player in domestic football, wasted several goal scoring chances.

With just a minute away from the final whistle, Ilam earned a spot-kick after Bikash Thulung Rai was adjudged to have handled the goal-bound ball from Pasang Sherpa. Referee Madan Kafle brandished a direct red to Rai and Dhimal stepped in to convert it.