Dharan, March 15:

Sahara Club of Pokhara advanced to the quarter-finals of the ninth Budha Subba Gold Cup football tournament with a comfortable 3-1 win over Morang XI today.

Skipper Basanta Gauchan, Nirajan Khadka and Rajan Adhikari scored for Sahara while Sunil Magar replied for Morang. Sahara had fielded half the Manang Marsyangdi Club players who belong to Pokhara.

The Morang team, which made to the semi-finals here in the first two editions, have failed to make any impact in the tournament since. Morang coach Paras Chaudhary blamed the district Football Association for the downfall of their standard. “We had to assemble the players from here and there to take part in the tournament,” said Chaudhary. Gauchan chipped in over advancing Morang goalkeeper Manish Timsina to provide Sahara the lead in the 25th minute. Sunil Magar levelled the scores in the 43rd minute capitalising on a minunderstanding between Sahara defender Hem Gurung and goalie Bishal Shrestha.

Nirajan Khadka retained the lead scoring on a spot kick after Morang defender Bijay Majhi handled the ball inside the box in the 73rd minute. Rajan Adhikari sealed the victory for Sahara in the 88th minute when he headed home on a cross from Anil Gurung.

“It’s sad for not being able to score much goals despite having the best strikers of the country,” Sahara coach Kiran Shrestha said pointing towards MMC’s Nirajan Khadka and Anil Gurung. “We will be a better side in our next game,” added coach Shrestha.