Defending champions Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club needed a 5-4 tie breaker victory over  Kaski XI to enter the semi-finals of the 18th International Invitational Budha Subba Gold Cup here at the Anfa Technical Centre on Monday.

The match was decided on penalties after the 90-minute regulation time ended in a 1-1 deadlock. Ganesh Lawati, Anjan Bista, Sudip Shikhakar, Milan Rai and Jyangbu Sherpa converted from the spot. Sunil BK had shot off the target for Kaski after Rabi Thapa, Rakesh Gurung, Pradeep Gurung and Suleman M agar converted.

It was Kaski who had taken a 22nd minute lead through Rakesh. The midfielder had also converted from the spot after Kaski were awarded the spot kick. Rakesh himself had won the penalty after Shikhakar appeared to have tripped the midfielder.

APF kept piling pressure in search of equaliser and they were duly rewarded when Shikhakar set unmarked Lawati in front of the goal and the skipper made no mistake slamming home. Both teams created several scoring chances in the second half but failed to break the deadlock.

Bista, Lawati, Shikhakar, Ranjan Bista had their shots on frame saved, while Tanka Gurung’s close range header on a freekick from Sushil Lama went agonisingly wide for Kaski in the closing stages. APF coach Janak Singh said a hectic schedule is not helping the footballers.

“We have been continuously playing tournaments of late, a reason why our boys are not scoring goals. We were fortunate to win the match today,” said Singh.

Kaski coach Bibek Gurung appreciated his inexperienced set of players for holding APF for a longer period.  “We have included junior players in our squad. They lack experience and we were able to score first and extended the match to the penalty shootouts,” said the Kaski coach.

Rupandehi beat Morang 3-0

BIRATNAGAR: Rupandehi XI entered the final of the Kandangwa Gold Cup with a 3-0 victory over Morang XI on Monday. In the final on Wednesday, Rupandehi will take on Nepal Armed Police Force Club. After a goalless first half, Peter Segun put Rupandehi ahead in the 46th minute. Victor Amobi doubled the lead in the 58th before the African recruit struck again in the 61st.