Sports

Three Star win Simara Gold Cup

Three Star win Simara Gold Cup

By Pusparaj Khatiwada

Ruslan Three Star Club team members celebrate after nwinning Ruslan Simara Gold Cup in Bara on Saturday.n

Bara, January 26 Ruslan Three Star Club won the title of the Ruslan Simara Gold Cup here at the Simara Stadium today. Three Star defeated defending champions Tribhuvan Army Club in sudden death to win the maiden title in Simara. The trophy is also first for Three Star in the current season. Three Star, who had won seven titles last season, were beaten by Nepal Police Club in final of the Nepal Ice Farwest Khaptad Gold Cup earlier this month. On Saturday, both the teams failed to score in regulation period and the match went to penalty shootout. The winners were declared in sudden death after they were deadlocked at 4-4 on penalties. Anjan Bista scored the winning goal in the eighth attempt after Three Star goalie Allen Neupane blocked a shot from TAC’s Suman Aryal. Neupane earned the man-of-the-match and got Rs 10,000. In penalty shootout, Rupesh KC, Ranjit Dhimal, Bikram Lama and Ananta Tamang scored for Three Star, while Sunil BK was denied by TAC goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu. Likewise, Deep Lama, Bibek Basnet, Bharat Khawas and Santosh Tamang scored for TAC, while goalkeeper Kuthu failed to score past his counterpart Neupane. In sudden death, Bikash Tamang and Bikash Khawas scored for TAC, while TSC goalkeeper Neupane blocked a shot from Deepak Gurung. Likewise, TAC custodian Kuthu denied Dinesh Rajbanshi, whereas Sunil Rai and Fode Fofana scored for TSC to make it 6-6 in seven kicks each. Keeper Neupane then saved a shot from Suman Aryal before Anjan Bista slotted home to seal the victory. The two-time champions TAC had defeated Three Star in the final of the previous edition but they failed to repeat the performance this time around. The two teams will now meet in the quarter-finals of the Madan Bhandari Itahari Gold Cup on Monday. Champions Three Star earned Rs 600,000, while TAC received Rs 300,000. Three Star also bagged four individual awards. Sushil Rai was adjudged the best player of the tournament and he received Yamaha bike. Likewise, Neupane was named the best goalkeeper, while Adamba Dambala was declared the best defender and Meghraj KC the best coach. TAC duo Santosh Tamang and Tanka Basnet were named the best midfielder and forward respectively. A total of 12 teams took part in the tournament organised by Nava Janajagriti Youth Club.