Govinda Chettry

Jhapa, March 3:

Mahendra Police Club defeated Three Star Club 2-0 in a quarter-final match of the 16th Tribhuvan Memorial Gold Cup Football Tournament here at Mechi Stadium today. The Policemen will now face Jawalakhel Youth Club in the semi-finals in a replay of recently-concluded seventh Budha Subba Gold Cup held in Dharan. JYC had beaten MPC, and were defeated by Three Star Club in the final.

On Thursday, MPC took lead in the 28th minute. MPC earned a penalty and Hari Khadka converted the spot kick in front of his home crowd. Ramesh Budhathoki doubled the tally in the 54th minute. Fed by Hari Khadka, man of the match Budhathoki dodged a couple of defenders before firing the ball into the net. Three minutes later, the match came to an abrupt halt after referee Kiran Giri left the field after a confrontation with Three Star Club skipper and goalkeeper Upendra Man Singh. Singh was brought down by an MPC player in the 57th minute, and referee Giri was about to caution the player with a yellow card, but Singh argued with Giri and he left the field in a huff. The match resumed after 13 minutes when the organisers requested Giri to continue with the match.