Star striker Nawayug Shrestha struck twice for the Tribhuvan Army Club as they rallied to beat Himalayan Sherpa Club 3-1 to book a semi-final spot in the Aaha-Rara Gold Cup football tournament in Pokhara on Sunday.

Foreign recruit Patrik Goha had put Himalayan Sherpa ahead in the first half before Nawayug Shrestha struck twice in the second half and George Prince added the third for the departmental outfits. Army, who arrived in Pokhara on Saturday after crashing out from the semi-finals of the Jigme Dorje Wangchuk Gold Cup in Bhutan, wasted scoring chance in the 15th minute when Santosh Tamang was denied by goalie Kishor Giri in one-versus-one.

Himalayan Sherpa opened the scoring in the 27th minute through Ivorian forward Goha, who converted a Tridev Gurung pass. Sherpa threatened the Army team in the 31st minute when custodian Bikesh Kuthu caught Gurung’s shot on goal. Army intensified pressure in the second half and came closer to scoring in the 67th only for the unmarked Bivek Basnet to head inches above bar in Karki’s pass.

Army finally equalised in the 71st minute as Shrestha head home in Santosh Tamang freekick. Rejuvenated with the equaliser, the departmental team gain upper hand in the 79th minutes when Shrestha added to his goal tally, scoring in a counter attack. Shrestha chipped in Karki’s pass after the latter dispossessed the ball from Sherpa defender, beat the offside trap before setting it up for Shrestha to score.   

Army sealed the comprehensive win scoring in the stoppage time through Karki, who quickly pounced in on the ball parried by goalkeeper Giri off Bharat Khawas’ initial shot. Shrestha was adjudged man-of-the-match and got Rs 5,000. Army coach Nabin Neupane said his side failed to play in proper rhythm in the first half due to exhaustion of long travel. “We slowly gained the momentum after the break. We could have been pressure-free had we utilized scoring chances in one-on-one situations in the first half,” said Neupane.

Himalayan Sherpa manager Bijendra Pudasaini said his team put much better display against Army in comparison to their previous outings. “I am satisfied with the team’s performance but it hurts not to have protected the lead and concede the match,” he said. Sikkim United of India will take on Three Star Club on Monday.