Dhangadhi, January 14

Rupesh KC scored the solitary goal as Ruslan Three Star Club defeated Valley Chyasal Youth Club 1-0 in the quarter-final match of the third Nepal Ice International Farwest Khaptad Gold Cup here at the Dhangadhi Stadium today.

At a time when the match was heading towards the final whistle, KC found the back of the nets three minutes before the end to separate the two neighbouring teams from Patan. Chyasal goalkeeper Dinesh Thapa Magar’sefforts to stop KC’s header on a cross from Sunil Bal went in vain as he was blocked by his own defenders.

Earlier, Chyasal custodian Thapa Magar saved Fode Fofana’s strike on a pass from Sunil Bal in the seventh minute, while Chyasal’s Hemanta Thapa Magar struck against the cross bar in a free kick. Bal then hit the post in the 28th minute before Chyasal shot stopper Thapa Magar collected a shot from Three Star’s Ananta Tamang in the 39th minute.

Chyasal came close to opening the score in the 58th minute but Santa Bahadur Gurung wasted a chance in rebound after Armand’s initial strike was blocked by Ananta Tamang. Three Star were unlucky in the 81st minute when Ranjan Bista’s powerful volley rebounded off the cross bar before Rupesh KC finally broke the deadlock in the 87th minute with a header and that was enough for Three Star to earn a berth in the last four.

KC was named the man of the match award, sponsored by RK Construction, and he earned Rs 10,000. Three Star coach Ujjwal Manandhar lauded his players hard work for the victory. “The boys put in a lot of efforts and that was the reason behind the win,” said Manandhar, whose side will face Mechi Netralaya Kakarvitta Football Training Centre in Wednesday for a place in final.

On Tuesday, CMG Club Sankata will take on Cameroon’s Dauphins Football Club in the fourth and final quarter-final match. The winners will face Nepal Police Club — who stunned Signature Manang Marshyangdi Club yesterday — in the semi-finals. A total of 12 teams took part in the biggest knock out tournament held outside the valley. The winners will be richer by Rs 2.1 million, while the runners-up will earn one million rupees.