A last gasp goal from Karna Limbu helped hosts Jhapa-XI edge Kaski-XI 3-2 in the quarter-finals of the Jhapa Gold Cup football tournament here on Saturday.

In a see-saw battle, Kaski rallied twice to keep the score 2-2 but Limbu scored the winner three minutes from time to secure Jhapa’s place in the last four. Ganesh Khadka and Dilen Lopchan scored the other goals for Jhapa, while Sushil Lama and Uttam Gurung replied for Kaski.

Kaski coach Bibek Gurung lamented on the missed opportunities. “We squandered too many scoring chances and that was the main reason for our defeat,” said Gurung. His Jhapa counterpart Bhagirath Ale accepted that his side was made to battle until the end. “We won against a very tough opponent,” said Ale.

Khadka opened the scoring for Jhapa early in the 10th minute at the Domalal Rajbanshi grounds as the midfielder ran on to receive a Sanjog Rai cross before slamming home past clueless Kaski goalkeeper Tenjing Namgyal. However, their lead lasted only for nine minutes as Sushil equalised in the 19th minute for Kaski.

Jhapa were put under constant pressure but Lopchan pounced on a wonderful opportunity to put the hosts ahead once again in the game. Lopchan was in right place to score when his teammate Yogesh Gurung’s powerful strike rebounded off the woodwork in the 24th minute.

The game was far from over as Kaski upped their ante and their hard work bore fruit six minutes after resumption. Uttam made full use of a Sushil Lama cross to once again bring his team back into contention. As the score was tied at 2-2, both teams upped their tempo and missed out on some scoring chances notably by Jhapa in the 75th and Kaski in the 79th minutes.

Jhapa had the last laugh though as Karna met a cross from Sanjog Rai in the 87th minute and slotted in the winning goal. Tribhuvan Army Club will play Nepal Police Club in Sunday’s quarter-final match.