Armed Police upset NRT

Pokhara, January 2:

Armed Police Force (APF) Team upset star-studded New Road Ream (NRT) 2-1 to make it to

the quarter-finals of the sixth Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament here at the Pokhara

Stadium today.

Prakash Karki and Ganesh Lawati scored for APF while local boy Anil Gurung replied for NRT. Karki converted a penalty kick in the 60th, which they earn after NRT defender Sagar Thapa brought down Bishal Rai in the area. Man of the match Lawati doubled the lead for the departmental team 10 minutes later with a superb solitary effort. The product of the organising Sahara club, Gurung pulled one back for NRT in the injury time.

APF lost their regular goalkeeper Samit Rajbhandary early in the game when he injured a finger and was replaced by Nawaraj Gautam. "Our players recovered well despite his (Rajbhandary) unfortunate exit," said APF coach Dumber Singh Gurung.

NRT coach Yogendra Suwal lamented his strategy of playing a tactical game against the physically tough team. "Had we only adopted a power-play, the result would have been different," said Suwal. APF will play Diganto Posari Club of Bangladesh in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Nepal Police Club (NPC) will meet Dharan Football Club on Thursday.