Coach Ananta Thapa’s valiant move to change the goalkeeper turned out to be a master stroke as Nepal Police Club edged Chyasal Youth Club in sudden death in the second Makwanpur Gold Cup football tournament here on Saturday.

The match had to be decided from the spot after both the teams were unable to break the goalless deadlock after the regulation time at the Forestry College grounds. With the penalty shootout seemingly unavoidable, Thapa made a tactical move bringing in Roshan Khadka to replace regular goalkeeper Satrughan Chaudhary and the move worked.

After a 4-4 deadlock in the tie breaker, Buddha Lama and Nir Kumar Rai converted for the Policemen. Narendra Chaudhary converted his shot in the sudden death but Khadka denied Sanjog Rai to send Chyasal back home. In the tie breaker, Tirtha Rana Magar, Hari Kathayat, Bharat Shah and Santosh Hemran were on target with Man Bahadur Pariyar blocked by Chyasal keeper Dinesh Thapa Magar.

Bishwo Adhikari, Bikram Limbu, Chetan Tharu and Amir Shrestha struck from the spot for Chyasal, while Khadka had also kept Milan Rai at bay. On Sunday, Cameroonian team Dauphins Family will take on Nepal Armed Police Force Club.

In Saturday’s match, it was NPC who created threatening moves but didn’t manage to score. Nir Kumar managed to round up two Chyasal defenders but his powerful shot hit the woodworks in the 65th minute. Thapa Magar was at his best when he got his hands to a goal bound ball from Tirtha Rana in the 55th.

Thapa said there was a lot for his side to improve. “We have been playing a lot in the knock out tournaments and everywhere we have failed in the finishing aspect. Few of our first choice players are currently in the national duty and playing with inexperienced team is not going to make things easy for us,” said Thapa.

Chyasal coach Raju Kaji Shakya was furious at his players. “This is the result of not training regularly as a team. The boys have been playing for different teams in knock out tournaments and it will take time for us to settle as a whole unit,” said Shakya.

Christian lifts Sankata in Kavre

KAVRE: Top tier outfits Sankata Club entered the quarter-finals of the Kavre Gold Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bhaktapur District Football Association on Saturday. African recruit Acne Christian scored twice for Sankata to put his team in the last eight. Christian scored in the 35th minute and added other in the 63rd to seal the victory. Hosts Kavre District Football Association and Jawalakhel Youth Club have already entered the semi-finals.

In the quarter-final, Sankata will take on Play For Attariya who were directly drawn in the quarter-finals. On Sunday, Nepal Armed Police Force will square off against Dolakha District Football Association. The winner of Sunday’s match will play Tribhuvan Army Club, who also had a first round bye, for a place in the last four. The champions and runners-up of the tournament will get Rs 400,000 and Rs 200,000 respectively. (SB)