Pramod Pokhrel/Rabi Dhami

Mahendranagar, April 9:

Kathmandu Metropolis beat Dharan Municipality 4-2 in tie-breaker to win the central-level Birendra Memorial Inter-municipality Football Tournament here today. The match went to tie-breaker after both the teams failed to score in normal 90 and extra 30 minute time.

Skipper Kumar Thapa, Rajan Rayamajhi, Nabin Neupane and Khum Gurung — all from Manang Marsyangdi Club — scored for Kathmandu. Arjun Rai and Sagar Ghimire converted the spot kicks for Dharan while the attempts of Shekhar Limbu and skipper Milan Shrestha went above the cross bar, shattering the hopes of taking the trophy to the Eastern Region for the second straight year. Last year, Biratnagar won the title beating Madhyapur Thimi. With the win, Kathmandu received Rs 4,00,000 and Dharan got Rs 2,00,000. The highest scorer of the tournament, Lalitpur’s Raju Ghising with 15 goals to his credit, and the best player of the tournament, Dharan’s Rishi Rai, pocketed Rs 50,000 each.

In front of the sell-out crowd of 10,000 at the local Khullamanch, both the teams failed to score despite creating some moves during the match. Kathmandu came close to scoring in the sixth minute, but striker Ramesh Budhathoki muffed up the opportunity from the penalty area. Four minutes later, Rajan Rayamajhi’s header on Budhathoki’s pass went inches wide. Dharan also had a couple of chances to score in the first half. Rishi Rai failed to convert from the six-yard box following Shekhar Limbu’s pass while Milan Rai muffed up an easy opportunity.

In the 31st minute, Dharan almost took lead through Milan Rai’s free kick, which the team earned after a Kathmandu defender handled the ball at the edge of the penalty area. Bikash Malla was spectacular in saving Rai’s powerful shot. In the 33rd minute, Dharan goalkeeper Dilip Chhetri brilliantly dived to save Ramesh Budhathoki’s attempt after dodging three defenders.