DAMAK, Mar 5: Departmental team Nepal Police Club (NPC) has advanced into the quarterfinals of the ongoing third Jhapa Gold Cup Football Tournament with a 1-0 win over Rupandehi XI on Sunday. Rejin Subba’s late decider sealed the win for the departmental side.
At the Dom Lal Stadium in Birtamod, Subba scored in the 81st minute from the danger area utilizing a pass from Suman Lama after Rupandehi’s goalkeeper Sojit Gurung was already beaten near the post.
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Both the teams got a lot of chances to score, but failed to convert it into goals. Lama’s strike in the 18th minute hit the bar, while Subba’s shot in the 25th minute was saved by Rupandehi’s Gaurav Budathoki after Gurung was already beaten. Also, Rabi Paswan’s shot in the 72nd minute was brilliantly punched away by Gurung. Likewise, for Rupandehi, Nishan Limbu’s 53rd minute poor shot went wide of the target. Rupandehi’s head coach Daya Ram Sapkota said that they failed to get a win in the match as his players were not fit for the match after getting too much rest.
”Players got enough rest after the Khaptad Gold Cup. Even though Police fielded second choice players, they got the result they needed,’’ Sapkota said,” We could not play well as one of our main players Deepak Rai was injured.’’
NPC’s head coach Ananta Thapa said that his team is prepared to defend the title as it is the most standard tournament of the country.
“We got a series of chances in the match, but could not score earlier in the match,” Thapa said, “We will work hard in the upcoming matches.” NPC’s Lama was named the man-of-the-match and was rewarded with Rs 25,000. The other departmental team Armed Police Force will take on Ruslan Three Star Club on Monday.
