Rai fires NPC into quarters

KATHMANDU, DEC 06 -

Captain Jumanu Rai scored a hat-trick to guide Nepal Police Club(NPC) into the quarter-finals of the Ncell Cup football tournament with a 3-0 win over Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) Club, while Boy’s Union Club (BUC) defeated Saraswoti Youth Club (SYC) 3-1 to keep their hopes alive of progressing into the last eight here at the Dasharath Stadium on Thursday.

In the clash between the two departmental sides, APF created the first meaningful opportunity of the game when captain Ganesh Lawati’s shot from inside the area hit the upright after he pounced on Ranjan Bista’s through ball in the 6th minute. APF were punished for their early miss when forward Jumanu cleverly chipped the ball over keeper Amrit Chaudhary from the edge of the box to put his side ahead in the 27th minute.

Jumanu and Yugal Kishor combined well to construct NPC’s second when the skipper guided the ball pass Chaudhary after controlling Yugal’s headed pass inside the area in the 65th minute.

Jumanu then completed his hat-trick six minutes later, cutting in from the left and releasing a powerful shot into the top corner. Santosh Shrestha had a chance to score a consolation for APF but he was denied by the alert custodian Ritesh Thapa in the 81st minute.

NPC coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said that the win was important but his side was not at their best in their first game of the tournament. “Considering our lack of preparation, it was a decent result.” APF coach Krishna Thapa rued on the missed chances and said it was important that his side now start preparing for the league.

In the second game, Ashim Jung Karki opened the scoring for BUC in the 17th minute with a sublime 40-yard freekick that SYC custodian Ashok Baral watched swirl into the top corner. Krishna Gopal Shrestha, however, levelled the scores in the 47th minute when he pounced on a poor clearance by Sagun Shrestha inside the box and guided the ball into the net.

BUC, who were in a must win situation after their 1-0 defeat to Manang Marshyandi Club on Tuesday, went ahead following Rakesh Lama’s cool finish inside the area in the 54 th minute. Second half substitute Kiran Rai confirmed BUC’s win when he fired home Akeem Baba Tunde’s cross into the top corner from the edge of the area in the 85th minute.

BYC coach Bijay Maharjan commended his players for their efforts after a hard-fought win.