Bara, February 11

Tribhuvan Army Club thrashed fellow departmental side Nepal APF Club 4-0 and advanced to the semi-finals of the Ruslan ninth Simara Gold Cup here at the Simara Stadium today.

Stand-in-captain George Prince Karki scored a brace, while Nawayug Shrestha a

nd Dinesh Henjan netted a goal each for the Armymen.

Karki opened the scoring in the 36th minute in a rebound after his first attempt was cleared by a APF defender from the goalline. Karki pounced on the rebound and buried the ball into the goal. Shrestha doubled the tally in the 47th minute as he scored from the box following a pass from Tanka Basnet.

Henjan made it 3-0 in the 71st minute when he converted a pass from Nawayug Shrestha. The pitch turned into a battle field in the 75th minute when players from both the teams were engaged in a scuffle after APF striker Ranjan Bista was brought down Bimal Pandey in TAC’s penalty area.

Referee took control over the situation and expelled APF’s Anjan Bista and Ranjan Bista along with TAC’s Nawayug Shrestha. The Armymen exploited the numerical advantage and Karki scored team’s fourth and his personal second goal in the 82nd minute to seal the victory.

APF coach Ratna Kaji Maharjan said his side faced an unexpected defeat against TAC. “Our players failed to meet the expectation and they were also not able to convert the goal scoring chances,” said Maharjan.

TAC coach Nabin Neupane lauded his players for utilising the goal scoring chances that came their way. “We won today’s match but the team will miss the services of Nawayug Shrestha in the semi-finals,” said Neupane.

TAC will now face the winners of Tuesday’s quarter-final match between CMG Club Sankata and Birgunj United Club. On Monday, Ruslan Three Star Club will play against Farwest Sports Club in quarter-final match.