Kathmandu, September 12 :

Armed Police Force (APF) Officers’ Club demolished Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC)

5-1 in the inaugural match of the Subarna Shumsher Memorial Cup Knockout Football Tournament here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Mani Pandit scored twice and new signing Santosh Sahukhala also got to the score sheet along with Ganesh Lawati and Man Sajan Rajbhandari for APF.

Apart from Sahukhala, who joined the APF Club from Nabil Three Star Club, three other new signings also took to the field — midfielder and skipper Kumar Thapa, striker Sunil Subedi and goalkeeper Min Basnet. Ishwor Shrestha scored a consolation goal for JYC.

Two minutes after Bhola Byanjankar wasted a golden

opportunity to score for Jawalakhel, Pandit opened the goalscoing spree in the 15th minute on a blunder of JYC goalie Manohari Maharjan, who failed to hold on to Kumar Thapa’s straight forward shot, leaving Pandit to simply tap in.

Pandit was close to double the tally in the 31st minute but JYC keeper cleared the ball from the goalline. Sahukhala came up with a brilliant goal six minutes later as he controlled the ball delivered by Durga Lawat, beat past three defenders before firing home the second APF goal.

Ishwor Shrestha brought back JYC into the game pulling back one just before the break when his 25-yard shot sailed into the nets. Just one minute into the second half, Bhola Byanjankar was unlucky not to get his name in the scorer’s list. His first first attempt rebounded off the bar and his second attempt also hit the woodwork.

APF then took control of the game despite wasting a couple of chances. Lawati added the third for APF in the 64th minute on a cross of Man Sajan, who also joined the party scoring yet another three minutes later.

His shot from just outside the box sailed into the top left corner rendering JYC keeper helpless. Pandit added the fifth goal in the 78th minute, his second of the game.

APF coach Dhurba KC expressed his dissatisfaction over the performance of his team. “We should have scored more the way midfield performed today,” KC said. “Strikers failed to capitalise on the chances created by the midfielders.” He was also not happy with the defence line as well.

Nabil Three Star Club (NTSC) will take on Mahendra Police Club (MPC) on Wednesday.