Pokhara, March 3:

Nabil Three Star Club beat Carlsberg Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) 5-4 in sudden death to win the fifth Aaha Gold Cup football tournament here at the Pokhara Stadium on Saturday.

Pradeep Maharjan scored for Three Star while Nurudeen Salau replied for MMC in the normal time. Maharjan gave Three Star the lead when he found the net on a freekick from Anjan KC in the 15th minute. Nurudeen levelled the scores immediately after the break to push the game into extra 30 minutes. Nurudeen capitalised on a mispass from Three Star’s stand-in skipper Rajesh Shahi.

The game was decided on tie-breaker after the 30 minutes of extra time also could not break the 1-1 deadlock. Chidiadi Chyna, Lok Bandhu Gurung, Anjan KC, Uttam Gurung converted while Rajesh Shahi shot high above the bar in the tiebreaker. Nurudeen, Sandeep Rai, Sagar Thapa and Niranjan Khakda scored for MMC while Three Star goalkeeper Sanjeev Shrestha saved Basanta Gauchan’s attempt to extend the match further into sudden death. Three Star’s Vijay Gurung converted the winner after MMC’s Michael Bassey shot off target.

Jubilant Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan credited the win to the hard work of his players, who were without skipper Surendra Tamang and striker Yugal Kishor Rai. MMC coach Chhiring Lopsang Gurung said that luck was against them. Pradeep Maharjan won the best player award in the 11-team tournament that began on February 20. Nurudeen Salau of MMC and Rajan Adhikari of Sahara Club shared the highest goal-scorer award. Both scored three goals in the tournament, Champions Three Star earned Rs 100,000 while runners up MMC got Rs 50,000. President of All Nepal Football Association Ganesh Thapa gave away the prizes.