Sports
Police pip MMC for title
Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) wilted under pressure in the dying moments as Nepal Police Club (NPC) claimed a 1-0 victory to lift the Damak Gold Cup on Friday.Arjun Rajbanshi
Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) wilted under pressure in the dying moments as Nepal Police Club (NPC) claimed a 1-0 victory to lift the Damak Gold Cup on Friday.
Forward Rejin Subba struck the winner in the 88th minute as NPC denied MMC in what was their second appearance in the final of second knock out football tournament of the season. MMC had also lost to Three Star in the final of Mai Valley Gold Cup in Ilam. The title earned NPC Rs 13, 11,000 and runners-up MMC got Rs 611,000.
Despite struggling in recent years with a mediocre following the exit of former national team stars, it was NPC who took control of the game. Their first threat came in the 12th minute when Suman Lama fired in an open net only to see it get cleared out by an MMC defender. Two minutes later, Rabi Paswan shot inches over the bar.
After the a goalless first half, MMC created a few moves to pile some pressure. Deepak Rai’s sublime pass found unmarked Bimal Rana inside the area but the latter failed to give the ball a right direction. But NPC kept piling pressure and got the reward two minutes before the regulation time with Subba heading home a cross from Abhishek Rijal to leave advancing MMC custodian Bishal Shrestha stunned.
Rijal was later named man-of-the-match and got Rs 11,000.NPC goalie Kiran Chemjong was adjudged the player of the tournament and got a TVS motorcycle. Santosh Hemran (defender), final game’s goalscorer Subba (striker), coach Ananta Thapa of NPC and Sujal Shrestha (midfielder) were other individual winners. They got Rs 25,000 apiece. Army striker Nawayug Shrestha, Max Olala of Madan Bhandari Sports Academy and Hari Karki of Nepal Armed Police Force Club were adjudged the highest scorer with three goals each. They got the share of Rs 25,000.