Simara, March 4

Birgunj United Club defeated Sahara Club of Pokhara 5-4 on penalties to advance to the semi-finals of the seventh Simara Gold Cup here today.

The match was decided in tie breaker after the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 in regulation period and extra time. Birgunj goalkeeper Kishor Giri saved the kick from Sahara’s Krishna Shakya to ensure the victory that also earned him the man-of-the-match award. Manish Ghale, Sumin Mainali, Sanjog Rai, Bikash Rai and Karna Limbu converted their penalties for Birgunj, while Susan Gurung, Palsang Lama, Uttam Gurung and goalkeeper Sujit Gurung scored for Sahara.

Earlier, Sahara took the lead in the 13th minute of the match when Chaturdhan Rai found he net following a cross from Krishna Shakya. Sahara defenders did well to stop Birgunj strikers to preserve the lead in the first half. But the relentless pressure from Birgunj paid off in the 76th minute when Karna Limbu levelled the scores on a free kick from skipper Prabesh Katuwal. Both the teams wasted goal scoring opportunities and the match went to extra time. None of the teams could score in the 30-minute duration and the match was decided on penalties.

Birgunj coach Sulav Jung Rana said they had to work hard for the win. “We should have won the match in regulation time but the players muffed up many chances,” he said. “My team played better than Sahara but the weak finishing almost cost us the match,” added Rana, whose team will face Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club for a place in final. Sahara coach Kiran Shrestha was not satisfied with the result. “We took the lead but failed to preserve that. And we also failed to convert the chances that came our way,” he said.