Himalayan News Service

Dharan, February 19:

Raj Kumar KC scored the only goal as Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) defeated Sikkim XI 1-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals of the seventh Budha Subba Tuborg Gold Cup Football Tournament here at Dharan Stadium today.

On Saturday, KC put his team ahead in the eighth minute when his superb volley found the net following Raj Kumar Ghising’s cross from 15 yards. The Sikkim team, which has been participating since the first edition of the tournament, has never made it to the second round.

JYC will meet MMC Club of Bangladesh in the quarter-finals.

JYC skipper-cum-goalkeeper Bikash Malla was brilliant throughout the match as he saved at least a dozen attempts of Sikkim XI. At the same time, JYC too missed a couple of easy chances in the first half.

Fed by Jibesh Pandey, Rabin Byanjankar came close to scoring in the second minute but missed as the ball that he guided from centre to the penalty box, went above the cross bar.

For Sikkim, Urgen Lama, following Nishchal Pradhan’s cross, had an opportunity to score but JYC defender Santosh Basnet cleared the ball from the goalline.

On Sunday, Morang XI will face national league champions TSC in the first quarter-final match. Mor-ang, which made it to the quarter-finals, defeated hosts Dharan ‘blue’ 6-4 in the inaugural match.