Tridev Gurung struck the winner as Himalayan Sherpa Club enter the quarter-finals of the Aaha-Rara Gold Cup football tournament with a 1-0 win over Dharan Football Club on Friday.

Gurung threw himself into the air to connect the left wing cross from skipper Man Bahadur Tamang to score the decisive goal for Himalayan Sherpa in the 77th minute.  Gurung was later declared man-of-the-match. Earlier Sherpas were unlucky not to have taken the 17th minute lead when Kamal Thapa’s strike struck the woodwork.

In a match where both teams failed to create genuine scoring chances, Dharan’s best move came in the 67th minute when Sherpas’ goalkeeper Kishore Giri punched out an effort of Fofana Drahima. Giri foiled Dharan yet again two minutes when he acrobatically palmed out a Yogesh Rai strike from the edge of the area.

Dharan coach Sagar Ghimire said his team lacked coordination in the game. “We fielded some new players as well as some foreign recruits which made the team to set properly. Performance-wise the game was evenly contested, but we missed our chances while they converted one,” added Ghimire.

Himalayan Sherpa manager Bijendra Pudasaini was not satisfied with his team’s display despite the victory. “We played well below par but hope to improve in the next match. If players like Amar Dangol regain their fitness, we will be totally a different team,” said Pudasaini.

Manang Marshyangdhi Club will be up against Nepal Armed Police Force Club in the first quarter-final match on Saturday.