Pokhara, February 25:

Former Nepali international Dev Narayan Chaudhary’s solitary goal helped injury-scared Mahendra Police Club (MPC) beat ANFA Academy 1-0 and secure a semi-final berth in the fourth Aaha Gold Cup Football Tournament at Pokhara Stadium today.

The decider came in the 73rd minute when the 60th minute substitute Chaudhary headed home following Parbat Pandey’s cross from the right flank.

The academy boys’ pressurised the MPC throughout the game. MPC defenders foiled the repeated attack made by Bharat Khawas and Anil Ojha. Ojha wasted a golden chance in the

16th minute. Arjun Rijal and Kunjan Shrestha also missed a chance each in the first half for MPC.

Chetan Ghimire of ANFA Academy was declared the man of the match. Runner-up of the previous edition, MPC will take on the Monday’s winner between Night Chess Club and Eastern Railway Kolkata. Defending champions Manang Marsy-angdi will face Gyanendra APF Club on Sunday.

Fans beaten up

POKHARA: Plain-clo-thed policemen beat the ANFA Academy supporters leaving five injured and one of them in serious condition.

After the game between MPC and ANFA Academy, the ecstatic policeman charged one Ananda Ale that created panic among the spectators. Ale sustained a serious eye injury while four others escaped with minor wounds. — HNS