Dauphins Family of Cameroon hammered Tribhuvan Army Club 4-1 to storm into semi-finals of the Pokhara Cup football tournament on Monday.

Army, the champions of the Itahari Gold Cup on Saturday, had fielded the second string team for the game and paid the price with a heavy defeat. The Army team conceded three goals in the second half alone against the physically superior opponents. Yannik Owona opened the scoring for Dauphins in the dying moments of the first half before netting his second after the interval. Armel Ahanda and Oka Bota were also on targets for the visiting team before Bivek Basnet hit back a consolation goal for the departmental team.

Army coach Ganga Deuja, who took over the team from the first choice coach Nabin Neupane, said they had problems due to lack of understanding after the team was formed by mixing inexperienced with the some experienced players. “There was lack of coordination in the defence and we failed to get the momentum,” said Deuja

adding that the first-choice team was given rest after rigours of playing non-stop tournaments.  “The first choice players were rested to keep them fresh for the upcoming tournament in Bhutan,” he said.

Unmarked Owona broke the deadlock in the first half stoppage time capitalising on a pass from Ekwem. He doubled the advantage on the hour mark in Dider Tina cross. Armel Ahanda made it 3-0 in the 68th minute beating past two defenders. They scored the fourth through Oka Bota in the stoppage time before Basnet pulled one back late on for the Army outfits.