Hetauda, February 18

Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) advanced to the final of the International Invitational Hetauda Gold Cup Football Tournament with a 1-0 victory over Sahara Club of Pokhara on Thursday.

MMC will take on Tribhuvan Army Club in the final. TAC had booked their final berth after beating Regal Hetauda Resort FC 2-0 in the first semi-finals match on Wednesday.

In the match played at the Forestry College grounds in Hetauda, Olawale Afeez scored the decider for MMC in the 79th minute to book their spot in the final. MMC’s goalie Kiran Chemjong had denied three attempts of Victor Amboie, while Sahara Club’s custodian denied Anil Gurung, Bishwas Shrestha and Afeez’s attempts.

MMC coach Tshring Lopsang said the players had worked hard for the match. “Boys lacked coordination in the first half and later they worked hard to win the match. We will include Biraj Maharjan, Bishal Rai and Hemant Gurung for the final,” Lopsang said. Sahara Coach Kiran Shrestha was

happy with his boys’ performance. “We hardly train together so the players lacked in coordination.” A total of eight teams are competing in the tournament. Winners will be awarded with Rs 300,000, while the runners-up will receive Rs 150,000. The tournament is organised in memory of late Suman Bhomjan, who lost his life in the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25 last year claiming more than 8,500 lives.