Hetauda, December 29

Bijay Youth Club defeated Saraswati Youth Club 3-1 in penalty shootout in the inaugural match of the Tuborg Hetauda Gold Cup here today.

The match was decided in tie-breaker after both the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 in the regulation period and they agreed for spot-kick battle without playing the extra time because of poor light. Sunil Bal, Martin Azid and SurajBistascored for the Hetauda-based Bijay, while JanamLig was the lone scorer for Saraswati of Kathmandu. Bijay goalkeeper Ashok Baral, who stopped the strikes from Kumar Giri, TirthaBasnet and Bobby, was named the man-of-the-match.

In the regulation period, Bal put the hosts ahead in the 22nd minute, while Kumar Giri netted the equaliser in the 80th minute. A total of 10 teams are taking part in the event organised by SumanBhomjan Memorial Foundation under the sponsorship of Gorkha Brewery. Top two teams will receive Rs 500,000 and Rs 300,000 respectively. The best player of the tournament will be rewarded with Rs 50,000.

Earlier, Makawanpur CDO Narayan Prasad Sharma Duwadi inaugurated the tournament amidst a programme also attended by Nepal Sports Journalists Forum General Secretary PrakashTimalsina and SumanBhomjan Memorial Foundation President BheshKhadgi among others. According to Foundation General Secretary Sabin Neupane, Friday’s match between Sahara Club and Nepal Police Club was postponed for Saturday because of the closing ceremony of the seventh National Games in Dharan.