National League runners-up Tribhuvan Army Club sent hosts Sahara Club packing 2-0 in extra time to enter the 14th Aaha-Rara Gold Cup final here at the Pokhara Stadium on Wednesday.

Santosh Tamang and second half substitute Dip Lama scored one goal each to guide the departmental team to within one victory from claiming the title. TAC will now take on winners of Thursday’s second semi-final match between Jhapa XI and Manang Marshyangdi Club.

The match was pushed to 30-minute of extra time after both teams squandered several goal scoring opportunities in the 90-minute of regulation time. Tamang put TAC ahead in the 102nd minute with his 22-yard shot grazed the back of the net. Five minutes later, Lama shut down Sahara hopes of comeback, slamming home a cross from Tamang who was later adjudged the man-of-the-match.

It was second meeting between the two sides in the tournament history after Sahara beat TAC 4-2 in tie breaker during the semi-finals of the 12th edition. It will be the Armymen’s third appearance in the final and    look to lift the tile for the first time. TAC coach Meghraj KC said Sahara’s strategy to take the game into tie-breakers flopped. “Their (Sahara) intentions were very clear. They opted for a defensive game to take the game into tiebreaker but once we scored they were on the back foot. We will come up with even stronger game in the title match,” said KC.

Sahara coach Kiran Shrestha said it was tough to play against TAC. “We lost our key player Buddha Lama

due to injury ahead of the match. TAC took the advantage of that. Still our boys played a competitive game. We had a few opportunities but wasted them,” said Shrestha.