Manang Marshyandi Club (MMC) made it to the semi-finals of the Pokhara Cup football tournament with a hard-fought win over Brigade Boys Club (BBC) in penalty shootout on Wednesday.

Forward Bimal Rana netted in the second half for MMC to cancel out Ritik Khadka’s first half goal. In the penalty shootout, MMC custodian Bishal Shrestha denied Padam Bhattarai’s first shot for BBC who played with a man down in extra 30 minutes following a sending off of custodian Lucky Karki deep into the second half.

MMC, yet to lift knockout trophy of the season unlike arch-rivals Three Star Club and Tribhuvan Army Club, will take on Dauphins Family of Cameroon in the second semi-final match on Friday. Nepal APF Club play Rissho University of Japan in the first semi-final on Thursday.  

BBC opened the scoring in the 16th minute through Ritik Khadka, who cut past two defenders before slotting home the goal which took a slight deflection off the woodwork. Sujal Shrestha replied for MMC two minutes later only to see his attempt go off target. MMC thought they had equalised in the first half through Heman Gurung freekick only to see BBC custodian Karki make a diving save to deny him.  

BBC almost doubled their advantage deep into first half stoppage time when Khadka’s flicked header in Ashis Chapagain pass sailed inches above the bar. Rana finally struck for MMC in the 67th as the striker capitalised a pass from Olawale Afeez to head home the equaliser.

BBC were reduced to 10-man after their shot-stopper Karki darted out of the area and handled the ball under challenge from Nigerian forward Afeez. Despite playing with a man down BBC held firm to keep MMC at bay for 30 minutes of extra time to push the match to tiebreaker.  

Sujal Shrestha, Heman Gurung, Kamal Shrestha, Suraj BK and Prakash Budathoki all converted penalties for MMC. Except for Bhattarai, who was denied by MMC goalie Shrestha, all four players Suraj Jyu Thakuri, Randip Paudel, Jay Gurung and Manoj Rai converted from spot for BBC. Custodian Shrestha was declared man-of-the-match.

The coach of the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League champions MMC Suman Shrestha said his team failed to play as per the game plan due to exhaustion and lack of preparations. “We were not anticipating the match going to tiebreaker  but we were largely responsible to make that happen as we took our opponents lightly,” said the MMC coach. BBC coach Subit Karki said his team fought valiantly and even pushed the match to penalty shootout. “We would have won the match had not we made a minor error that resulted into conceding a goal,” said Karki.