Rissho University of Japan knocked Nepal Police Club (NPC) 1-0 to enter the semi-finals of the sixth Pokhara Cup football tournament on Tuesday.

A 19th minute goal from Yasutaka Suzuki was sufficient for the quick Japanese side to send the departmental packing. NPC were coming into the tournament after clinching the Khaptad Gold Cup in Dhangadhi on January 19.

The youthful Rissho team was quick in comparison to the departmental team and created frequent chances in the first half. Suzuki netted the decider when he applied a one-touch strike to convert a pass from Natsuki Takeda. Moments later Takuya Hitomi’s shot on goal after rounding up NPC defender was denied by goalkeeper Saturghan Chaudhary.

Takuto Yoshino’s header on Hitomi corner in the 33rd sailed above the bar before NPC survived another scare in the 38th when skipper Bikram Dhimal made a goalline clearance to deny a headed attempt from Daichi Ogawa. The shot-stopper denied Hiroto Hoshikawa’s long range powerful shot three minutes before the interval.

NPC came up with much improved show after the interval and created a couple on attractive moves though they failed to get on the scoresheet. In the 69th minute the Japanese outfits goalkeeper made a double save, first blocking a Hari Kathayat shot on goal before foiling Bharat Shah in the rebound. NPC another chance came in the 76th when Bharat Shah’s right-flank shot was well saved by Japanese custodian. Rissho’s Natsuki Takeda was declared man-of-the-match.

NPC coach Ananta Raj Thapa said that he had taken the match as an opportunity to learn from the visiting team. “We got a chance to learn how modern football is played,” said Thapa. “Seeing the youth team at first glance we thought we could beat them. But the first goal became turning point of the match.”  

Rissho coach Takesh Tokairin said his side failed to play to their potential due to long travel and unfamiliar playing conditions. “The boys failed to give their 100 percent due to exhaustion of long travel. We can come even stronger in the semi-finals,” he said. Manang Marshyangdi Club will lock horns against Brigade Boys Club in the last quarter-final match on Wednesday.