Lahore, September 25:

Nepal’s Mahendra Police Club (MPC) and Dordoi-Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan notched impressive wins against Cambodia’s Khemara and Chinese Taipei’s Tatung 6-4 and 5-0 respectively to enter the semi-finals of the AFC President’s Cup from Group B.

Group A winners Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ will take on MPC in the first semi-final on September 27 while Dordoi-Dynamo will clash against Ratnam Sports Club of Sri Lanka in the second semi-final the following day.

MPC were given a fright in the closing stages by Khemara as they brought the game to 4-4 with three quick goals, but MPC recovered to add another two goals to seal the match 6-4.

MPC seemed to have snuffed out Khemara’s prospects of making it to semis with four first half goals against one. But then five late goals — three in 11 minutes by Khemara — infused life to the proceedings, for MPC too had to shun their complacent ways and score two goals to wrestle back the initiative.

MPC got their first goal early in the 12th minute when Anant Thapa beat the entire Khemara defence to score before skipper Ramesh Budhathoki made it 2-0 four minutes later.

Khemara pulled back one in the 23rd minute when Rotha Loch shot the ball past MPC goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa from the edge of the box. But MPC scored two more goals in the 25th and 30th minute through Parbat Pandey and Ju Manu Rai.

MPC looked set to qualify going into the break with 4-1 scoreline. But Khemara came back strongly to score three goals in a flash. Once Bun Vi Chet Ty had scored from a penalty in the 67th minute, Sokumpheak Kouch’s two in the 70th and 78th minute made the fag end really exciting.

That spree must have stung MPC, but they got the lead soon after through two strikes by Ananta Thapa in the 79th that restored their lead and Arjun Rijal in the 87th, that with only three minutes and a bit remaining must have been really reassuring.