DHANGADHI, MARCH 8

Bagmati Youth Club stunned A Division League champions Machhindra Football Club 4-2 on penalties and advanced to the semi-finals of the fifth Chief Minister Sudurpashchim Khaptad Gold Cup here at the Dhangadhi Stadium today.

The match was decided in tie-breaker after both the teams failed to score in regulation period. Bagmati, who are preparing to play C division qualifying tournament, had defeated another A division outfit New Road Team in the previous match and they will face Friends Club for a place in the final.

In tie-breaker, Amar Shrestha, Iman Ghale, foreign recruit Dady Wamba Jr and Anil Rana Magar converted their shots from the spot for Bagmati, while Diwas Limbu had his attempt blocked by Machhindra goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha.

Only skipper Ranjit Dhimal and Bimal Gharti Magar scored for Machhindra, while Bishal Rai and Omadej wasted their shots. Nicholas Fernandes of Bagmati Youth Club was named the player of the match and he earned Rs 10,000.

Bagmati coach Rohit KC was over the moon after his side's victory and was already dreaming of winning the title. 'I am too much happy today as we were able to beat league champions Machhindra and the team full of A division players,' he said. 'We have proved that mofussil teams are also not weak and back-to-back victory over A division teams have boosted the morale of the players,' said KC.

Machhindra FC coach Prabesh Katuwal said the luck was not on his side. 'We could not score a single goal despite having 100 per cent performance from the players. We were unlucky today,' he said. Machhindra had lost to Nepal APF Football Club in the semi-finals of the Aaha-Rara Gold Cup in their previous knockout tournament in Pokhara.

A version of this article appears in the print on March 9, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.