Dharan, March 20:

New Road Team (NRT) registered a 1-0 win to dump hosts Dharan ‘red’ out from the quarter-final of the ninth Budha Subba Gold Cup football tournament here today.

Deepak Bhusal scored the winner with a 25-yard strike in the 79th minute that left Dharan goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong stranded in the line. NRT were invited for the participation after national league champions Mahendra Police Club opted out of the tournament.

NRT coach Suman Shrestha said that the players had silenced their critics for calling them a weaker team. Four-time champions Dharan were lucky when their goalie Kiran Chemjong saved a penalty in the first minute. Chemjong denied Rajan Gauchan which earned him the man of the match award. Rishi Rai, Buddha Che-mjong and Raju Rai all failed to shine for Dharan.

Dharan coach Dilliram Shrestha said his players were below par during the match. “This is not how you play football,” added Shrestha.

Sahara Club of Pokhara will meet defending champions African United in Wednesday’s semi-final. Sahara made their road to the last four beating Jhapa and Trivhuvan Army Club while African United advanced with wins over Dharan ‘blue’ and Bhutanese team.