Sports
CoAS Women’s Football: APF Club pips Army in tiebreaker, makes four titles in a row
Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club clinched the CoAS Women’s International Football Tournament for the fourth consecutive time defeating Tribhuvan Army Club 4-2 in tiebreaker here at the Nepal Army Headquarters ground in Bhadrakali on Wednesday.Sports Bureau
Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club clinched the CoAS Women’s International Football Tournament for the fourth consecutive time defeating Tribhuvan Army Club 4-2 in tiebreaker here at the Nepal Army Headquarters ground in Bhadrakali on Wednesday.
Army, who had lost the finals of last three editions to the same opponent, put on a valiant effort to force the match into penalty shootout after a 1-1 stalemate in regulation time. The additional 20 minutes of play failed to break the deadlock and the outcome was decided from the spot kicks.
APF, who has won four of the six editions of the tournament, took the match under control in the first half and made the breakthrough in the 41st minute through Anita Basnet. The forward scored from six yards in one-on-one with Army custodian Anjana Rana Magar. Army could have levelled scores in the 45th minute but Sarmila Thapa failed to reach Bimala’s Chaudhary’s cross inside the zone.
In the 58th star forward of APF Sabitra Bhandari’s feekick was punched to safety by Army goalie Rana Magar. Army hit back the equaliser three minutes later through Bimala Chaudhary, who capitalised on a blunder from APF goalie Anjila Tumbahamphe. APF almost sealed the victory 17 minutes into the 20 minutes of extra-time when Kabita Limbu cleared a goal-bound header from Bhandari.
In the tiebreaker, APF’s Bhandari and Renuka Nagarkoti converted their first two shots while Army skipper Krishna Khatri was denied by goalie Tumbahamphe and Indira Rai fired off the target. The third APF penalty-taker Gita Rana Magar slammed above the bar while Army’s Anajan hit the target to make the score 3-1. But APF’s Anita Basnet and Anu Lama easily converted their fourth and fifth shot. Although Nisha Bohara converted the fourth shot, Army need not take the fifth one after APF had already made the game safe.
Despite the defeat Army coach Kishor KC was satisfied with the performance. “We knew it was tough to beat APF in regular time. So we were looking to take the match into tiebreaker,” he said. “But we were unlucky to have missed the first two shots in tiebreaker,” said KC. APF coach Janak Singh Tharu lamented for his team’s lack of cutting edge. “We are happy that we won. But we should have sealed it in regular play,” said Tharu.
APF earned Rs 300,000 and Army got Rs 150,000. The two semi-finalists—Province 2 and Nepal Police Club—got Rs 50,000 each. Army’s Punam Jargha Magar was declared the best player and rode home with a two-wheeler. APF’s Tumbahamphe was adjudged the best goalkeeper while her teammate Sabitra Bhandari got best forward award and Tharu the best coach honour. Army;s Sunita Chaudhary was named the best defender and Bimala Chaudhary the best midfielder.