MMC, Pokhara advance

Pokhara, April 29:

Carlsberg Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) and Pokhara ‘B’ advanced to the second round of the first Pepsi Seven-A-Side International Football Tournament at the Pokhara Stadium today. MMC humiliated Rupandehi Football Association 7-1 and Pokhara ‘B’ blanked Rastriya Jagriti Club 4-0.

Sunil Subedi and Khum Gurung each scored a hat-trick for MMC. Subedi provided the lead in the eighth minute and added two more goals in the 26th and 45th minutes to complete his hat-trick. Khum opened his accounts in the 21st minute when he struck home from the edge of the box and added his second in the 33rd minute following a pass from Subedi. Gurung, who was later declared the man-of-the-match, completed his hat-trick in the 38th minute.

Raju Ghising scored another from spot kick after Rupandehi’s Shekhar Thapa brought down Subedi in the danger zone. Ashok Pun pulled back a consolation goal in the 48th minute for Rupandehi.

Earlier in the first game, Sunil KC struck a hat-trick in Pokhara’s 4-0 win over Rastriya Jagriti Club. KC provided the breakthrough in the 12 minute and added two more goals under his belts in the 40th and 42nd minutes. In between, Ravi Khadka scored from a freekick in the 32nd minute for the local team. KC was later named the man-of-the-match.