Dharan FC hammered Pokhara XI 3-0 to enter the semi-finals of the Budha Subba Gold Cup football tournament on Sunday.

Rejin Subba, Prakash Budathoki and Budha Chemjong scored for the hosts. The win set up hosts against Nepal Police Club in the last four tie. Subba gave Dharan a 13th minute lead before Budathoki doubled their lead in the 28th minute.

Budathoki scored from a freekick, awarded after Subba was tripped outside the area. Chemjong completed the scoring for the hosts, converting from a Budathoki cross in the 69th minute.

The margin of victory could have been even wider had not Dharan wasted several scoring chances. Peter headed into the bar early in the fourth minute following a corner kick from Budathoki. Budathoki missed a sitter in the 27th minute, failing to beat Pokhara goalkeeper Akash Ranabhat in a solitary encounter. Hemant Gurung also missed another chance in the 39th minute for Dharan.

Despite the emphatic victory, Dharan FC coach Subhash KC rued his team’s missed chances.”We should have scored more goals,” said KC.

Pokhara coach Suraj Tamang took solace from the defeat saying that his team comprised of inexperienced players and the loss was obvious.

“Our regular players are representing other clubs and we had to bring in new faces for the tournament.

It was a good learning curve for them,” said Tamang. Sankata will take on Nepal APF Club on Monday.