Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) cruised into the semi-finals of the Khaptad Gold Cup football tournament with a 4-0 rout of Rupandehi XI on Friday.

Victor Amobi, Bishal Rai and  Bimal Rana scored for MMC while Rupandehi’s Chhiring Gurung conceded the another. MMC will take on Tribhuvan Army Club in the first semi-finals on Saturday, while the another semi-finals pits Nepal Armed Police Force Club against Far-west XI on Sunday.

Amobi put MMC ahead in the 20th minute but it took another 35 minutes for them to add to their tally, even that courtesy an own goal. Gurung inadvertently guided the ball into his own post in an attempt to foil the MMC attack.

Rai then ended any remaining hopes of Rupandehi’s comeback when he struck the third goal seven minute before time. Rana completed an emphatic MMC victory scoring the fourth goal a minute later. Amobi was declared man-of-the-match and was rewarded with Rs 10,000.

MMC coach Hemanta Ale credited the victory to the team coordination. “We did right in every aspect and scored goals at will while also keeping the opponents at bay,” said Ale adding that the semi-final match against the departmental team would be a competitive affair. “Having played on numerous occasions during the top-flight league in the past, we know each other very well but still we have an upper hand and hope we will win on Saturday.”

Rupandehi coach Dilip Chhetri blamed his team’s blunders for the big-margin defeat. “After conceding an early goal, we went for goals in the second half and exposed ourselves allowing them (MMC) to score more goals,” said Chhetri, who was also not happy with his team’s coordination.