Lalitpur, June 9

CMG Club Sankata and Nepal Police Club entered the semi-finals of the Lalit Memorial U-18 Football Championship here at the ANFA Complex grounds today.

Devraj Tamang scored a hat-trick as Sankata thrashed Royal Treasurer Jawalakhel Youth Club 4-1 in the day’s first quarter-final match, while NPC came from behind twice to edge past Himalayan Sherpa Club 3-2 to earn last four berth.

Tamang opened the scoring in the 35th minute to put Sankata ahead before he doubled the tally three minutes later. Laxman Gurung made it 3-0 in the 54th minute before JYC’s Sushant Chaudhary pulled one back in the 67th minute. Tamang then completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute.

In another match, Himalayan Sherpa took an early lead through the goal from Abhinash Tamang in the 11th minute before Rajiv Lopchan made sure that the NPC go into the break with scores tied at 1-1 with a goal in the 44th minute.

Himalayan Sherpa took the lead for the second time in the match when Diwash Bohara struck in the 74th minute but luck was not on their part as NPC’s Abhisekh Rijal netted two in the space of nine minutes to seal the victory. Rijal scored the equaliser in the 77th minute and found the back of the nets in the 84th minute.

In Saturday’s semi-final matches, Sankata will take on Friends Club, while NPC face defending champions Tribhuvan Army Club.