Pokhara, January 4
Sankata Club outplayed defending champions Nepal APF Football Club 4-1 and advanced to the final of the 22nd Aaha-Rara Gold Cup here at the Pokhara Stadium today.
Oloumou Messouke and Stephen Binong scored two goals each in the first semi-final match of the tournament and the 20th edition winners ousted defending champions APF. Hari Karki scored the consolation goal for the departmental side, who had defeated Manang Marshyangdi Club in last year's final.
Binong put Sankata ahead in the fifth minute of the match capitalising on error from APF defender Dipesh Dhimal and goalkeeper Raju Nagarkoti. Binong was able to snatch the ball and put it into the goal taking full advantage of lack of communication between Dhimal and Nagarkoti.
Messouke doubled the lead in the 43rd minute when he collected a pass from Binong and beat APF defenders before slamming the ball into the second bar. Binong netted his second goal of the match when he beat offside trap on a long clearance from Andre Thiery Biyik in the 61st minute and scored past APF goalkeeper Nagarkoti in one-onone situation.
APF substitute Hari Karki reduced the deficit to 3-1 in the 73rd minute.
Messouke restore the three-goal cushion five minutes from time following a long pass from Biyik.
Sankata, who made it to the final for the second time, will face either Church Boys United or Bhutanese Youth Sports Club on Saturday. The newly-promoted A division side, United will face the American team in the second semi-final match on Thursday.
A version of this article appears in the print on January 5, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
