KATHMANDU: Nabil Three Star set the British Gurkha Cup quarter-final date with title favourites Nepal Police Club (NPC) after playing a goalless draw with Annapurna Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) in their last league match here today. RCT, who was already through to the quarter-finals, topped Group ‘B’ with seven points while Three Star collected five points to finish second. Boys Union Club crashed out despite inflicting yet another humiliating defeat to Mid and Far Western-XI with 10 goals to nil earlier in the day. RCT coach Madhu Karki said his team did not play for a draw against Three Star and appreciated the results that went according to his plan. “We didn’t want NPC at the early stage of tournament and wanted to top the group. Winning the group that included top flight Three Star is an achievement for us,” said Karki. NPC won all their Group ‘A’ league matches comprehensively to qualify for last eight. RCT were a better team in the first half as they successfully penetrated Three Star defence with many scoring opportunities and their tight defence thwarting their opponents on a number of occasions. Unmarked RCT midfielder Deepak Rai was close to score but his shot missed the bar in the fifth minute. Santosh Sahukhala struck a powerful shot inside the area in the 11th minute only for RCT goalie Dillip Chhetri to deny him. RCT striker Yogesh Gurung was unmarked inside the area when Three Star goalie Kiran Chemjong was down on the ground in 23rd minute but defender Anjan KC stole the ball away from him. In the dying moments of the first half, Santosh Gurung was close to provide RCT the lead with his powerful strike but Chemjong brilliantly punched the ball. Three Star steadied their ship in the second half and penetrated RCT defence several times but couldn’t break the deadlock. Skipper Pradeep Maharjan made a decent cross to Santosh Sahukhala on a counter attack in the 23rd minute but RCT defender Krishna Kunwar brought him down at the edge of the area. Maharjan took the following freekick but his shot deflected off the wall. Earlier, Boys Union failed to score on the first 35 minutes of the match. Boys Union could have made it to the last eight had they won by 14-goal margin provided RCT defeated Three Star. Raju Rai alone scored six goals but couldn’t save his team from elimination. Rai scored in the 38th, 48th, 53rd, 83rd, 85th and 90th minute. Tanka Basnet scored one of the two first half goals in the 35th minute. Shekhar Limbu converted in the 54th and Yuvaraj Rai struck in the 86th, two minutes before Bhakta Rai added another for Boys Union.

Today’s matches

Machhindra vs PLA Sports @ 1200 ANFA U-16 vs MMC @ 1400