Jhapa, November 25

Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club defeated Rupandehi-XI in sudden death and advanced to the semi-finals of the Mechi Netralaya Kakarvitta Gold Cup Football Tournament in Mechinagar today.

The match went to penalty shoot our after both MMC and Rupandehi failed to score in the regulation period. The winners were then decided in the sudden death after both the teams converted five spot kicks in penalty shootout. Bikram Lama and Bimal Rana scored for MMC in sudden death, while Rupandehi’s Bijay Dhamal converted his kick but Saurav Magar was denied by MMC goalie Dinesh Thapa Magar.  MMC goalkeeper Thapa Magar was named the man-of-the-match and got Rs 10,000.

Earlier in the penalty shoot out, MMC’s Anil Gurung, Bimal Basnet, Sujal Shrestha, Heman Gurung and Dona Thapa converted their shots from the spot, while Niraj Basnet, Rajin Dhimal, Rupesh KC, Dipak Rai and Dilip Chhetri netted for Rupandehi.

In the regulation period, Rupandehi’s foreign recruit Cedric Aba failed to score in the 11th minute after receiving a cross from Rajin Dhimal, while MMC’s Bishal Rai ended up with a wide shot in the 41st minute.

Similarly, Rupandehi custodian Dilip Chhetri stood firm to deny MMC’s Bimal Gharti Magar in the 50th minute.