BARA, February 9

Nepal APF Club defeated Nava Janajagriti Youth Club ‘Blue’ 2-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Ruslan ninth Simara Gold Cup here at the Simara Stadium today.

Ravi Thing and Ranjan Bista scored a goal each for APF, who will play against Tribhuvan Army Club in their next match.

Thing, who replaced Yubraj Khadka in the 62nd minute, broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute as he found the back of the nets following a cross from Nabin Lama. Bista sealed the victory for the departmental side scoring a goal in the injury time.

Nava Janajagriti gave a tough fight to APF in the first half but failed to convert the goal scoring chances. Bibek Chaudhary failed to score from the box in the third minute, while Sagar Chaudhary came close to scoring in the 31st minute but ended up hitting directly into the hands of APF goalie Raju Nagarkoti from the penalty area. Nagarkoti also denied Bishant Tamang in the 89th minute.

At the other end, APF’s Ranjan Bista was denied by Nava Janajagriti custodian Dilmani Chaudhary in the seventh minute, while Yubraj Khadka ended up hitting over the crossbar in the 12th minute from the box after receiving a pass from Rup Bahadur Lama.

Similarly, APF’s Anjan Bista failed to convert from the spot in the 46th minute. APF earned the penalty after Bista was brought down by Nava Janajagriti’s Lokendra Bahadur Karki.

On Saturday, Nava Janajagriti Youth Club ‘White’ will take on Morang Football Club in quarter-final match.