Laxman Ruchal (left) of CMG Club Sankata vies for the ball with Uttam Gurung of Gorkha Boys during their Nepal Ice Farwest Khaptad Gold Cup match in Dhangadhi on Friday, January 11, 2019. Photo: THT
Dhangadhi, January 11
CMG Club Sankata defeated Gorkha Boys Club 2-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Nepal Ice International Farwest Khaptad Gold Cup here at the Dhangadhi Stadium today.
Ravi Silwal and Elon Maxwell scored either side of the half time to ensure victory for Sankata, who finished runners-up in the recently-concluded Pulsar Martyrs Memorial A Division League. Sankata will face Cameroon’s Dauphins FC for a place in the semi-finals on January 15.
Silwal put Sankata ahead in the first half injury time when he collected a pass from Ravi Silwal inside the penalty box before slotting home past goalkeeper Sojit Gurung. Maxwell sealed the victory in the 83rd minute following a low cross from Fofana Ibrahim.
Earlier, Sankata came close to opening the scoring in seventh minute but Saroj Dahal’s flick attempt on a free kick from Laxman Ruchal went inches above the bar. Sankata goalkeeper Rajababu Thapa punched out Shiva Shrestha’s shot from 25 yards out. Thapa made a brilliant diving save to deny Kazim’s powerful strike in the 38th minute.
Kuldeep Karki put the Rupandehi-based team in the match when he made a goalline clearance on Maxwell’s attempt at a time when goalkeeper Gurung had already been beaten. Gorkha Boys came close to scoring the consolation goal in the injury time but Masud failed to score in one-on-one with Sankata goalkeeper Thapa as the ball sailed inches over the bar.
Sankata coach Salyan Khadgi was concerned about the poor condition of the pitch. “We were able to register victory in the first match but the boys failed to perform to their potential due to the poor pitch condition,” said Khadgi. Gorkha Boys coach Dayaram Shrestha rued the missed opportunities. “We created a number of opportunities but failed to convert them,” he said.
On Saturday, Nepal APF Club will take on Mechi Netralaya Kakarvitta Training Centre in the first quarter-final match. Top two sides will take home Rs 2.1 million and one million rupees respectively.
The post Sankata beat Gorkha Boys, advance to quarters appeared first on The Himalayan Times.
Written by Nikki Hamal
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/sankata-beat-gorkha-boys-advance-to-quarters/ under the title “Sankata beat Gorkha Boys, advance to quarters”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
