Kathmandu, November 16

CMG Club Sankata defeated Nepal Police Club 2-0 and advanced to the semi-finals of the first Chandragiri Gold Cup Football Tournament here at the Naikap grounds today.

Foreign recruits Florence Koava and Martins Ajiyi scored for Sankata against the departmental side. Koava opened the scoring to give Sankata an early lead when he headed home in the seventh minute of the match. Ajiyi then scored an acrobatic goal from crowded d-box two minutes later to double the advantage.

NPC created numerous goal scoring chances but the forwards let the team down and the departmental team fell in their first match of the tournament. Abhisekh Rijal was the chief culprit as he missed as many as three opportunities in the first half alone. He wasted a chance in the 23rd minute and failed to find the back of the nets in 36th and 44th minutes. Ravi Paswan also muffed up a chance in the 32nd minute.

The departmental side came close to scoring on couple of occasions in the second half as well, while their opponents Sankata also wasted few chances. Ajiyi missed a chance to score his second goal of the match in the 34th minute, while Amit Tamang’s free kick shot went inches above the bar eight minutes later. Ajiyi muffed up a chance in one-one-on situation in the 48th minute, while Nirajan Khadka failed to give the finishing touch following a free kick from Amit Tamang in the 88th minute.

Sankata goal scorer Koava was named the man of the match and he received Rs 3,000. Sankata will now face Friends Club for a place in the final. Friends had registered a 4-3 victory over hosts Bright Youth Club in the opening match on Monday. On Friday, Himalayan Sherpa Club will take on Nepal APF Club.