Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 27:

Machhindra Club thrashed Sun Moon ‘A’ 5-1 and entered the final of the Sun Moon Peace Cup Under-19 Football Tournament, which has been organised by Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), Nepal under the technical assistance of Kathmandu District Football Association, here at National Police Academy today.

Machhindra Club took an early lead when Sun Moon’s Sagun Shrestha netted an own goal while trying to clear Jeevan Sinkeman’s free kick in the third minute.

Fed by a defender near the centre-line, Deepak Rai guided the ball alone to the penalty box and beat past Sun Moon goalkeeper Sabin Dangol before scoring in an open net in the 24th minute.

Prakash Karki of Sun Moon reduced the margin to 2-1 in the first-half injury time. Jeevan Sinkeman restored the two-goal lead in the 86th minute when he found the net beating Sun Moon goalkeeper Sabin Dangol in counterattack.

In the 88th minute, Arjun Rijal snatched the ball from Sun Moon defender and scored in his solo attempt making it 4-1 in favour of Machhindra Club. One minute later, Ajad Pradhan completed the rout with an accurate header following Deepak Rai’s free kick.

Five Sun Moon players — Ajay Shah KC, Prabin Thapa, Man Sajan Rajbhandari, Sudip Shrestha, and Pankaj Lama — and Machhindra Club’s Bikram Maharjan were cautioned by referee Laba Khatri in the rough match. In Thursday’s semi-final, Friends Club will take on Sun Moon ‘B’.