Lalitpur, July 11

Machhindra Football Club faced a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Chyasal Youth Club but the loss could not stop them from advancing to the quarter-finals of the Lalit Memorial U-18 Football Championship here at the ANFA Complex grounds today.

Karma Sherpa scored a brace for Chyasal after Krishna Bhandari opened the scoring for Machhindra. After a goalless first half, Bhandari put Machhindra ahead in the 61st minute. Sherpa levelled the scores for Chyasal in the 71st minute.

Chyasal then earned a penalty in the 87th minute and Sherpa stepped up to convert from the spot to earn his team’s first victory. Machhindra and Himalayan Sherpa Club accumulated six points each to make it to the quarter-finals from Group A. Saraswoti Youth Club, who earned five points from four matches, also made it to the last eight as best second runner-up team. Chyasal and New Road Team ended the campaign with four points each. Chyasal and New Road Team finished the campaign with four points each.

In another match, Friends Club outplayed Three Star Club 2-0 riding on second half goals from Nisen Limbu and Jiwan Gurung. After a goalless first half, Limbu broke the deadlock in the 60th minute and Gurung put the issue beyond doubt for Friends four minutes before time.

With their first victory in Group B, Friends accumulated four points from four matches and were tied with Manang Marshyangdi Club and Nepal APF Club. Tribhuvan Army Club had already made it to the quarter-finals from the group with perfect 12 points from four matches, while MMC and APF joined the TAC in the last eight from the group. Three Star managed just one point from four matches.

Brigade Boys Club and Nepal Police Club have made it to the last eight from Group C. A total of 14 youth sides of A division outfits — divided into three groups — are taking part in the tournament organised by All Nepal Football Association in memory of its acting president Lalit Krishna Shrestha, who died of electrocution in 2015.