Nirajan Khadka struck a hat-trick to steer Three Star Club to the semi-final of the Budha Subba Gold Cup football tournament with a 4-0 rout of Farwest XI 4-0 on Tuesday.

Khadka scored in the seventh, 53rd minute and in the stoppage time for the four-time champions of the tournament. Sunil Bal was also on scoresheet for the Lalitpur based outfits, who will lock horns against Durgapur Steel FC of Kolkata for a place in the final. Farwest started with offensive approach and created numerous scoring chances but poor finishing cost them dear.

Three Star opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Khadka unleashed a powerful shot after a pass from Bal. Farwest missed out on equalising in the 27th minute after Three Star’s Ranjit Dhimal made a timely interception to thwart a Jeevan Chaudhary pass to Erouna Damham inside the area. In the 34th, Maniram also ended up firing wide for Farwest.

After soaking up the pressure, Three Star doubled their tally in the 37th after Bal made use of Khadka pass to score the second goal. Khadka netted another goal eight minutes after restart, heading home a Ranjit Dhimal pass. Three Star, the champions of recently held Itahari Gold Cup and runners-up of Aaha-Rara Gold Cup in Pokhara, sealed the comprehensive victory, scoring from the penalty spot in the injury time. Khadka stepped in to take the spot kick to complete his hat-trick. Three Star were awarded the penalty after Farwest skipper Chetan Tharu handled the ball inside the area.

Despite the comprehensive win, Three Star coach Meghraj KC term the match as competitive. “Although the Farwest are new team, they played really well,” said KC adding that experience of the team proved instrumental. Farwest coach Suresh Hamal said he had not expected to face such big margin defeat. “Our strikers failed to convert chances,” said Hamal whose team had won the Nepalgunj Gold Cup earlier this season.

Holders Nepal Police Club will take on Sankata in the first semi-final on Wednesday.

MMC pull out of Simara Gold Cup

BARA: Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) pulled out of the ninth Simara Gold Cup football tournament that kicks off on Thursday.

MMC cited injuries to their players for the withdrawal, informed Nawa Jana Jagriti Youth Club (NJJYC) President Kasim Miya, the hosts on Tuesday.  Miya said they will replace MMC with second NJJYC team. MMC crashed out from the first round of the recently concluded Aaha-Rara Gold Cup in Pokhara and ongoing Budha Subba Gold Cup in Dharan.    

Besides, hosts’ NJJYC ‘Blue’ and ‘Red’ teams, defending champions Sankata, Three Star, Tribhuvan Army Club, APF, Morang FC, Birgunj United, Farwest XI and Bijay Youth Club of Dhangadi are other teams in the 10-team knockout tournament. Champions will walk away with Rs 551,000 on February 17 while the runners-up will receive Rs 250,000. The best player of the tournament will get a two-wheeler. The expected cost of the event is Rs 7.6 million. (PR)