KATHMANDU: Armed Police Force (APF) Club and Machhindra Football Club will battle it out for the fourth and last semi-final berth of the British Gurkha Cup Football Tournament at the Dasharath Stadium on Monday.

The winner of the last quarter-final match between Group ‘D’ winners APF Club and Group ‘C’ runners up Machhindra will join Annapurna RCT, Nabil Three Star Club and Manang Marshyangdi Club in the lucrative semi-finals. The semi-finalists are assured of earning at least Rs 100,000 in the Rs 4 million tournament.

Both the teams entered the quarter-finals unbeaten in their respective leagues. Machhindra only fell behind MMC on weaker goal scoring rates after tying on on points as well as the goal difference. Machhindra defeated PLA Sports Club 2-0, ANFA U-16 team 2-1 before rounding off their Group ‘C’ with a goalless draw with MMC. APF started their Group ‘D’ with a stunning 2-1 win over star-studded NRT but were held to a goalless draw by Sankata Kathmandu Mall Club.

The departmental team completed their league with a 9-0 rout over the assembled and little known Western Region-XI. While APF could take comfort coming to the quarter-finals with a resounding win, Machhindra could be content to be in the quarter-finals after edging out teams that were equally capable of making it through.

Whatever the result be, the biggest knockout football tournament till date in terms of prize money, champions alone will walk away with Rs one million and both the teams would be eager to prove themselves worth the award by taking a step further by winning Monday’s match.

The runners up will earn Rs 500,000. The losing semi-finals will get Rs 100,000 each. The British Gurkha Group is the main sponsor and has provided Rs two million to organisers All Nepal Football Association. In addition. the best striker, midfielder, defender and goalkeeper will be get Rs 50,000 each, while the best best player of the tournament will earn a motorcycle.