Dharan enter final

Pramod Pokhrel

Mahendranagar, April 7:

Dharan Municipality thrashed Lalitpur Sub-metropolis 5-1 and entered the final of the central-level Birendra Memorial Inter-municipality Football Tournament here today. Dharn will face Kathmandu in Saturday’s final.

After a goalless first half, Dharan took lead moments after the whistle through Sekhar Ghimire, who plays for Kathmandu’s Boys Union Club. Ghimire netted a spectacular goal from about 20 yards when the ball hit the lower cross bar and entered the net.

Lalitpur came back with a brief equaliser in the 57th minute through a penalty. Raju Lama converted the spot kick which the Lalitpur team earned after a Dharan defender handled the ball inside the penalty area.

Dharan again took lead one minute later when Sekhar Limbu found the net following Sagar Ghimire’s pass. Fed by Milan Shrestha inside the six-yard box, Arjun Rai extended the lead to 3-1 in the 64th minute.

Rishi Rai made it 4-1 in the 75th minute when he guided the ball from the centre before firing into the net. This was Rai’s 10th goal of the tournament. Lalitpur’s Raj Kumar Ghising leads the list with 15 goals. The highest goal-scorer will receive Rs 50,000. Man of the match Milan Shrestha completed the rout in the 85th minute.

Meanwhile, Organising Committee chairman Ganesh Chand informed that the committee is organising a benefit match between journalists and the organisers to raise funds for children suffering from cancer.