POKHARA: Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) eased past Machhindra Football Club 4-1 to reach the semi-finals of the eighth Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament at the Pokhara Stadium today.

TAC dominated Machhindra throughout the match with Ram Kumar Biswas, Hari Mahato, Raju Tamang and Bikarna Shrestha scoring one each. Karna Limbu replied for Machhindra.

The departmental team of the Nepali Army outplayed Machhindra especially in the first half. Biswas headed home from inside the area that left Machhindra goalie Bishal Magar helpless in the 10th minute. Hari Mahato doubled the lead seven minutes later. TAC were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute after a Machhindra defender brought down Raju Tamang inside the danger zone. Tamang himself converted it to put TAC 3-0 ahead.

Out of sorts Machhindra then shifted into a defensive mode after the continuous slaughter from the Armymen. Karna Limbu was the man on focus for Machhindra, who missed almost half-a-dozen goalscoring opportunities. Limbu, however, was successful in bringing his goal in the 78th minute. Man of the match Bikarna Shrestha of TAC then completed the rout in the 82nd minute utilising a cross from Chun Bahadur Thapa.

Army coach Raju Kaji Shakya said the result was predictable one. Machhindra coach Narottam Shakya accepted that his team gave a poor show than what they had done in the previous match. TAC will now take on the winners of the match between Sahara UK and NRT.

In Monday’s quarter-final, Manang Marshyangdi Club of Kathmandu will take on Dhaka Sporting Club of Bangladesh.