Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 10:

League-round matches are over. And the four teams, including home team Three Star Club, are preparing hard to make it a memorable day when they enter the ground on Thursday to fight for the spots in the final of the first AFC President’s Cup Football Tournament.

The other semi-finalists are Group B leaders Dordoi-Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan, Group A toppers Regar TadAZg of Tajikistan and Group B runners-up Blue Star Sporting Club of Sri Lanka. Three Star Club finished with five points to enter the last four as Group A runners-up.

In the semi-finals, Tajikistan’s Regar TadAZg will take on Blue Star Sporting Club, and Three Star Club will play against Dordoi-Dynamo at the Dasarath Stadium.

Three Star Club entered the last four as a runner-up from Group A. The first match of the home club against Taiwan Power Company of Chinese Taipei ended in a 1-1 draw, thanks to Pradeep Maharjan’s equaliser. After sharing a point in the inaugural match, Three Star Club registered a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Bhutanese national league champions Transport United.

In their league-round last match, the Martryrs’ Memorial National League champions stopped Regar TadAZg to a goalless draw, which sent them to the semi-finals with five points.

TSC’s opponent in the last four, Dordoi-Dynamo, advanced to the semis as Group B leaders. They registered a thumping 6-1 victory over Hello United of Cambodia in the first match, and thrashed Blue Star of Sri Lanka 8-1 in the second match.

The Kyrgyzstan team, who were already in the semi-finals, fielded their reserve players in the last match against Water and Power Development Association (WAPDA) of Pakistan, and lost 1-0.

Those who have watched Regar TadAZg’s matches in the league round, they can predict an easy victory for the Tajikistan team over the Sri Lankan team, while the other match promises to be a thriller. Dordoi-Dynamo are a strong team, while Three Star will have the home advantage.

Goalkeeper Upendra Man Singh, who was instrumental in TSC’s goalless draw against Regar TadAZg, the only striker Santosh Sahukhala and midfielder Bishan Gauchan are injured, but are expected to be fit before the semi-final.