Sports

MMC defend Seven-A-Side trophy

MMC defend Seven-A-Side trophy

By HNS

KATHMANDU: Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) claimed the second Pepsi International Seven-A-Side Football Tournament defeating Nepal Police Club (NPC) 3-1 in tiebreaker after a 2-2 stalemate in regular time and added time here at the Dasharath Stadium. Yogesh Shrestha scored both the goals for the NPC while Ganesh Khadka and Jagjit Shrestha converted for the defending champions MMC in normal time. Raj Kumar Ghising, Sabindra Shrestha and Ganesh Khadka all converted their spot kicks for MMC while only Ju Manu Rai hit the target for NPC. After Deepak Poudel scored NPC's second goal, Ganesh Khadka sealed MMC's victory with their third and final spot kick. Earlier, NPC took the lead in the third minute through Yogesh before Ganesh equalised in the 14th minute. MMC took the lead after Jagjit scored in the 20th minute but Yogesh equalised in the injury time. The winners walked away with Rs 150,000 while the runners up earned Rs 75,000. MMC goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong won the best player award. In all, 16 teams took part in the tournament organised by Seven-A-Side Football Federation. Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba gave away the prizes.