Birgunj United Club entered the quarter-finals of the eighth Simara Gold Cup football tournament with a slim 1-0 victory over Sahara FC of Pokhara at the Simara Stadium on Saturday.

Bikash Rai scored as early as second minute when Sahara defence was yet to find their feet in the match. Rai’s powerful shot from inside the box deflected off Sahara skipper Susan Gurung to kiss the back of the nets.

The early goal put Sahara under pressure throughout the match and despite creating some goal scoring chances, Birgunj managed to hold on to the lead. Birgunj skipper Amar Dangol fed Rai inside the area but he failed to double up the lead applying a weak shot in the 33rd minute.

Birgunj missed three more chances in the first half. Sahara upped their game in the second half but poor finishing cost them the match. Their coach Dipesh Yonjan blamed lack of coordination for the loss. “The boys were not able to play as a team,” said Yonjan.

Birgunj coach Sulav Jung Rana was not satisfied in a struggling victory. “We played well in the first half but it didn’t happen in the second 45 minutes,” said Rana. On Sunday, Bijay Youth Club will play Saraswoti Youth Club.