Sports
Last-gasp Subba goal seals victory for NPC
A late goal from Rejin Subba steered Nepal Police Club (NPC) to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Rupandehi XI in the Jhapa Gold Cup football tournament at the Domalal Stadium in Birtamode on Sunday.Parbat Portel
A late goal from Rejin Subba steered Nepal Police Club (NPC) to the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Rupandehi XI in the Jhapa Gold Cup football tournament at the Domalal Stadium in Birtamode on Sunday.
Subba struck the winning goal in the 81st minute to set the last eight date against departmental opponents Tribhuvan Army Club. The entertaining match saw NPC dominate the show in the first half creating as many as half a dozen of scoring chances. NPC came closer to scoring in the 18th minute when Suman Lama’s scorcher smashed the woodwork. The departmental team could have scored again in the 25th minute but for defender Gaurab Budathoki to prevent a goal-bound strike from Subba with Rupandehi’s custodian Sojit Gurung already beaten. Rabi Paswan also squandered a few scoring opportunities before the break.
Rupandehi came up better after the break as Nisan Limbu wasted a chance in the 53rd minute. In the 72nd, a powerful shot from Paswan was punched out to safety by Rupandehi goalie Gurung. NPC finally made breakthrough in the 81st to ensure they move to the next round and close to third title of the season. Subba guided the ball at the back of open from the area after capitalising a pass from Lama. NPC started the game without their experienced players Bhola Silwal and Ram Waji. Although Waji appeared in the second half, he failed to make any visible impact. Lama was declared man-of-the-match and received Rs 25,000.
NPC coach Ananta Raj Thapa rued on the missed chances. “We had to wait until late to get the score after wasting so many scoring opportunities,” said Thapa promising that his side would come up with an improved show against Army on Thursday. Rupandehi coach Dayaram Sapkota said his decision to field largely a second string team cost them the match. “We gave rest to our senior players and the ones who got the chance failed to make the most of the opportunities,” said Sapkota, who was also without injured forward Dipak Rai.
Nepal Armed Police Force Club will take on Three Star Club on Monday. Three Star had defeated APF 1-0 in the title clash of the Bikash Running Shield in Chitwan on Saturday.