Dharan, February 25

United Kurseung Football Club defeated Dharan FC 5-3 on penalties in the opening match of the 23rd Budha Subba Tuborg Gold Cup here today.

The five-time runners-up Dharan had faced the similar fate in the previous edition against the same team. United Kurseung advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament which resumed after a gap of two years.

The match was decided on penalties after both the teams failed to score in the regulation period. United Kurseung goalkeeper Manoj Pradhan sealed the victory when he stopped the spot kick from Ribs Maskey.

Siddhant Chhetry, Subrot Soren, Sahil Rai, Akash Pradhan and Raj Raut all scored for United Kurseung, while only three players - Dorje Sherpa, Pravin Bhujel and Roman Limbu - converted their kicks for the home team. United Kurseung goalkeeper Pradhan was named the player of the match and he earned Rs 10,000.

Dharan coach Sagar Ghimire said his boys performed as expected and were able to control the match.

'But the luck was not on our part today,' Ghimire said. 'We could not convert the opportunities in regulation period and we also hit the post,' he added.

United Kurseung coach Urgen Lama said his side could not perform as expected in the first match against the home team. 'We were under pressure as we had to play against the home team in the first match,' he said. 'And we also did not have satisfactory preparations for the tournament. We got lucky in tie-breaker.'

On Sunday, Bagmati Youth Club will take on Avenir FC. A total of eight teams, including three foreign clubs, are taking part in the tournament. Earlier, Dharan Sub-metropolitan City Mayor Harka Raj Rai inaugurated the tournament.

Top two teams will receive one million rupees and Rs 500,000 respectively, while the best player of the tournament will get Rs 100,000. The best goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, striker and coach will get Rs 25,000 each. The highest scorer will receive Rs 35,000.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 26, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.