Dauphins Family of Cameroon defeated Rupandehi XI 2-0 to enter the semi-finals of Jhapa Gold Cup football tournament at the Domalal Stadium in Birtamode on Thursday.

Dauphins, declared unauthorised to play in the country by football governing body All Nepal Football Association, scored late goals either side of the break to set up the semi-final clash with Tribhuvan Army Club on Saturday. Dauphins made the breakthrough in the 40th minute from penalty spot through Petnga and Messoulie ensured the victory with second goal four minutes from time.

Dauphins intensified the attacking from early periods but struggled to get on the scoresheet until late first half. In the 31st minute Dauphins’ Tina Tina squandered a scoring chance at an unattended post with Rupandehi goalkeeper Ajeet Prajapati out of his position. In the 34th minute Rupandehi defender Pepy Adama denied Mousi’s powerful attempt.

Dauphins finally broke the deadlock in the 40th after Rupandehi’s Adama brought down Messoulie inside the area. Petnga stepped in to take the penalty and dully converted it. Three minutes later a powerful Messoulie shot missed the target by a whisker. Dauphins Ahanda Essah also came close to scoring in the 45th minute.

Two minutes after the restart Rupandehi goalkeeper comfortably gathered a Messoulie strike. Rupandehi missed a chance to equalise in the 62nd minute as Nir Bahadur Ale fired off target. In the 77th minute, Tina Tina failed to beat goalkeeper having already cut past the Rupandehi defenders. Messoulie came closer to scoring the second goal for Dauphins in the 79th minute but for a goal-line clearance from a Rupandehi defender.

Dauphins’ search for the second goal finally arrived in the 86th minute when Messoulie unleashed a powerful strike from outside the area to send the ball crashing at the back of post.

Messoulie was declared the man-of-the-match and won Rs 15,000. Hosts Jhapa XI will take on Three Star Club in the first semi-final match on Friday.