Nepal Police Club (NPC) scraped to the final of the Budha Subba Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over Rupandehi XI here on Thursday.

The 25th minute strike from NPC skipper Jumanu Rai eventually turned out to be the winning goal. Rai headed in a pass from Rabin Shrestha to set the title clash with Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) on Saturday. MMC qualified for the final on Wednesday after seeing off holders Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club 3-2 in the first semi-finals.

Police missed out on adding to their tally two minutes after Rai scored as Hem Tamang shot wildly off the target on a pass from Bharat Shah. NPC also squandered several other scoring opportunities notably by Yogesh Shrestha and Binod Karki.  While Shrestha shot wildly out, Karki was denied by the woodwork. NPC skipper then skied a shot from the rebound despite being in a great scoring position.

Rupandehi had fair numbers of scoring chances with Victor denied by NPC defender early in the fifth minute by making a goalline clearance. Immediately after NPC custodian Bishal Shrestha foiled an attempt from Bikram Limbu. Nagendra Mani Limbu came close to scoring an equaliser in the 66th minute only to see his shot wide.

NPC coach praised his boys for their determined performance. “The coordination between the players was remarkable today,” said Thapa adding that his team tightened the defence after taking the lead while looking for opportunity to score in counter-attach. “We will have to improve on our performance in the final,” said the NPC coach.

Rupandehi coach Dayaram Sapkota said luck was against his team. “We missed too many easy goal scoring opportunities and we deserved victory,” said Sapkota adding that Rai’s goal turned the game on its head.