Hosts Sahara Club sidelined visiting United Sikkim 2-0 to enter semi-finals of the Aaha-Rara Gold Cup on Saturday. 

African recruit Elvis Appiah and Shiva Subedi scored second half goals as the hosts sailed into the semi-finals to knock out Sikkim from their first game. The visitors were directly drawn into the quarter-finals. Sahara, who had defeated Nava Janajagriti in their first game, will now meet the winners of the other quarter-final match between Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) and Three Star in the last four.

The match which seemed to be heading towards a 

draw following a lackluster first half suddenly burst into life when Appiah headed home a long cross from Buddha Tamang from the danger area in the 59th 

minute. Sikkim had few chances but a poor finishing deprived them an equaliser. 

It was Sahara again who struck through Subedi to seal the victory.

Subedi struck on a cross from Shiva Shrestha scoring close from the goal line. Subedi was later adjudged the man-of-the-match. Sahara coach Kiran Shrestha believed a change in strategy worked for his side. 

“We were not able to learn the game of our opponents in the first half. We regrouped during the break and decided to play an all-attack game and that worked for us,” said Shrestha adding his side will come even stronger for the last four game.