Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club registered a hard fought 1-0 win over Morang XI to enter the quarter-finals of the fourth Jhapa Gold Cup football tournament at the Domalal Rajbanshi stadium in Birtamode on Sunday.

Hari Karki headed home the decisive goal for departmental team in the match that was interrupted nearly for half an hour in the first half resulting from allegation of Morang player’s eligibility. APF will meet departmental rivals Tribhuvan Army Club for a place in the semi-finals on Tuesday.  

The match was interrupted for 23 minutes after nine minutes into first half due to protest of APF officials. Complaining that the players fielded by Morang originally did not belong to them, APF officials demanded the fourth official to stop the match. They demanded that Morang show the release paper of three players. But the match resumed as both sides agreed to play after request from the organisers Jhapa XI.

APF threatened Morang early as in the eighth minute when Morang goalkeeper Kishor Giri gathered Karki’s strike without any difficulty. But APF struck in the ninth minute of the first half stoppage time after he headed in a Sudip Shikhrakar freekick. Morang tested APF in the 16th minute of the stoppage time only for Sunil Khadka to apply feeble header in a Daddy Junior Wamba long pass as the ball sailed off target. Two minutes later, APF custodian Amrit Chaudhary cleared a looming danger. The custodian cleared Ulrich Siewe’s pass to Wamba before even the striker got his foot to the ball.

Morang came up with spirited show after the break and created numerous goal-scoring chances. In the 50th minute, Wamba missed the target by whiskers and nine minutes later skipper Bikram Limbu fired inches above the bar. In the 66th, APF defender cleared Morang’s Patrick’s powerful shot. Karki was named man-of-the-match and got Rs 15,000.

APF coach Ratnajaki Maharjan said his team had a tough time in beating an “assembled team” like Morang. “We have long been competing in such tournament but we were well below our potential today. We will come up with much improved showing in the quarter-finals,” said Maharjan. Morang coach Sanjib Budathoki said his side lost due to poor finishing. “The boys gave their heart out and created scoring chances as well. But they failed in the finishing department,” Budathoki said. He also blamed APF of trying to demoralise his side by stopping the play.

The quarter-finals will begin from Monday. The home team Jhapa XI will take on Hong Kong Nepalese Academy in the first match. While Jhapa had defeated Sahara Club of Pokhara in their first match, Hong Kong had directly earned quarter-final berth.