Kathmandu, September 16 :

Mahendra Police Club beat Nabil Three Star Club (NTSC) 4-2 and Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) blanked Armed Police Force (APF) Officers’ Club 3-0 in the Subarna Shumsher Memorial Knockout Football Tournament here today. The two teams will now meet in Monday’s semi-final.

Skipper Hari Khadka and Ananta Thapa scored two goals each for MPC while Surendra Tamang and Pradeep Maharjan found the nets for NTSC. In the second game, Nirajan Khadka, Khum Gurung and Ritesh Khadka scored a goal each for MMC.

Ananta put MPC ahead in the 11th minute on a header and Hari doubled the lead in the 29th minute through a spectacular free kick. Ananata added another in the 56th minute. Three Star’s misery was’n over yet and four minutes later Hari scored another on a spot kick, which they earned after Sanjeev Budhathoki handled the ball inside the box.

Three Star skipper Surendra pulled one back in the 66th minute chipping in over the goalkeeper’s head. NTSC narrowed the margin to 4-2 in the 75th when MPC’s Dipendra Poudel’s attempted clearance rebounded off Pradeep Maharjan into the nets.

In the second game, Nirajan Khaka scored a spectacular goal from the edge of the box and Khum Gurung added another two minutes from break.

MMC goalie Sangeet Rajak made brilliant saves in the 25th minute when he denied Jibesh Pandey, while Durga Lawot hit the woodwork moments later. Rajak made yet another save on Ganesh Lawati’s attempt before denying Prakash Karki seconds later.

Ritesh Khadka, who replaced Nirajan in the 90th minute, added the third in the 93rd mintue. In Sunday’s quarter-final, Tribhuvan Army Club will face Saraswoti Youth Club.