Itahari, April 5:

NIB Friends Club beat hosts Rastriya Jagriti Club 3-1 and entered the final of the Itahari Gold Cup here today.

Skipper Rabin Byanjankar, Nilendra Dewan and Laxman Ruchal scored a goal each for Friends, while Yogesh Shrestha netted a consolation goal for the hosts. Friends will play Carlsberg Manang Marsyangdi Club in Saturday’s final.

Byanjankar put the Friends ahead in the 43rd minute following a pass from Nur Raj Kafle. Dewan, who wasted two easy scoring opportunities in the fifth and 33rd minutes, doubled the lead in the 79th minute after a headed pass from Laxman Ruchal, who put the issue beyond doubt scoring Friends Club’s third goal in the 83rd minute.

Yogesh Shrestha scored the consolation goal for Rastriya Jagriti Club in the 89th minute. The hosts came close to scoring on half-a-dozen occasions but Mahendra Police Club striker Jumanu Rai failed to beat Friends goalkeeper Uzol Manandhar. Nur Raj Kafle of Friends Club was named the man of the match.