KATHMANDU; Santosh Sahukhala and skipper Pradeep Maharjan scored second half goals as Nabil Three Star Club clinched the British Gurkha Cup with a 2-0 win over Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Three Star dominated the game from the begining and squandered five easy scoring chances before finally taking the lead in the 59th minute. Sahukhala headed home a superb freekick from Anjan KC. Earlier, Three Star winger Vijay Gurung missed a sitter in the 10th minute when, beating the offside trap, he failed to beat MMC goalkeeper Bishal Shrestha. Gurung went for the glory and, instead of passing the ball across to the unmarked Sahukhala, took the shot himself only for the goalkeeper Bishal to deny him. Three Star skipper Maharjan struck a powerful shot in the 25th minute only for MMC goalie to deny him.

Sahukhala missed yet another sitter four minutes into the second half, failing to direct the ball into the nets from five yards following an acute cross from Maharjan. Sahukhala was again the

culprit in the 53rd minute, unable to convert from close range. Jocelyn Morgan Pierce had started the move inside the area, passing the ball to Gurung, who fed it to Sahukhala but the forward missed from eight yards.

Sahukhala finally corrected his mistakes by converting a cross from KC in the 59th minute. MMC immediately threatened Three Star three minutes later but goalie Kiran Chamjong denied a powerful header from Amar Pun. MMC had their best chance of the game in the 64th minute. With Three Star goalie Chemjong off guard while trying to chase the ball, Shiva Shrestha had a chance to score into the unattended post but shot wide.

Three Star skipper Maharjan squandered a chance to double his team’s tally, shooting high from eight yards in the 70th minute and MMC keeper Shrestha punched away Sandeep Rai’s 40-yard freekick.

The Three Star skipper ensured his team’s victory scoring in the third minute of injury time. Maharjan struck into the nets following a back pass from Sahukhala.

MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung praised his boys despite the defeat. “We have new and young players and putting up a good fight against the star-studded Three Star was praiseworthy,” he said. “We conceded the first goal due to poor marking and lost the match,” added Gurung.

Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan said they achieved their goal — the championship. “Despite the injury woes, we had prepared ourselves to win the tournament and I am thankful to my players and management for their support,” he added.

Vijay Gurung of Three Star was declared the best player of the tournament and was presented with a motocycle. Likewise, Kiran Chemjong was adjudged the best goalkeeper, Rohit Chand of Machhindra the best defender, Shiva Shrestha of MMC the best midfielder and Santosh Sahukhala of Three Star the best forward. All four individuals received Rs 50,000 each.

Three Star walked away with one million rupees and the runners up MMC received Rs 500,000. The losing semi-finalists Ranipokhari Corner Team and Machhindra Football Club also earned Rs 100,000 each.