Jhapa XI defeated Nepal Armed Police (APF) 2-0 in the inaugural day match of the 21st Tilottama Gold Cup football tournament on Saturday. First half goals from Karna Limbu and Buddhabal Tamang knocked out APF from their first match. Jhapa will now take on Dauphins FC of Cameroon in the quarter-finals.

Limbu put Jhapa ahead in the eighth minute taking the ball from the left blank before firing home. Tamang struck in the 45th minute as Jhapa headed into the second half with a two-goal cushion. Tamang sprinted with the ball from the midfield and slotted past APF goalkeeper. With Jhapa switching to defensive gears, APF created several scoring chances but wasted all of them.

Man-of-the-match Limbu got Rs 10,000. Jhapa coach Gopal Rai said the victory was result of a good management. “We have looked after the player well as a management and gave them the preparation that they had wanted. We came here to defeat the APF side,” said Rai. APF coach Rajendra Tamang was not available for his comments.