GANGTOK: Defending champions Nabil Three Star Club lost 5-4 in sudden death against George Telegraph in the quarter-finals of the Governor’s Gold Club here today.

The match went to tie-breaker after a 1-1 draw in the regular 90 minutes and 30 minutes of added time. Both the teams scored two goals each in tie-breaker and Three Star lost the match in sudden death

after Nirajan Khadka failed to score from the spot. The defending champions

had a bye and were playing their first match of the

tournament.

Earlier, Three Star took an early lead through a second-minute goal from Yugal Kishor Rai, who scored in an empty net following a pass from Sandeep Rai. George Telegraph levelled the scores in the 55th minute when unmarked NG Verona stunned Three Star goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong from outside the penalty box. Three Star players muffed up several scoring opportunities. Yugal Kishor Rai, Pradeep Maharjan and skipper Surendra Tamang were among the players who failed to make their marks.

In the dramatic tie-breaker, both the teams converted first two spot kicks. Biraj Maharjan, Anil Ojha, Anjan KC and Surendra Tamang scored from the spot, while Yugal Kishor Rai and Sandeep Rai failed to convert the penalties for Three Star. The Nepali club fell behind for the first time in the match when Nirajan Khadka failed to score the eighth spot kick and that became the end for Three Star. Mithun Shah, Jodilina, Summer Dey, Pradeep Roy and Deepak Singh scored for George Telegraph.