TSC beat SYC to advance into semis

HETAUDA: Lalitpur-based Three Star Club (TSC) romped to 2-0 victory over Saraswoti Youth Club (SYC) in the ongoing second edition of the Martyr's Memorial Makwanpur Gold Cup in Hetauda on Tuesday.

TSC's foreign recruits Mansa Bigogui and Peter Segun scored goals in each half to secure victory for the defending champions. Mansa broke the deadlock in the 25th minute after beautifully lobbying over the onrushing SYC's goalie in a one-versus-one situation.

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In the second half, both the teams came out all guns blazing and created chances to notch goals in an enthralling encounter today. TSC's pressing game yielded dividends as Peter Segun scored a thumping header in the hour mark to double team's tally.

SYC's goalkeeper Raj Kumar Ghising thwarted opposition Sushil Rai's strike with a spectacular save in the 75th minute and prevented TSC from scoring another goal.

And, in the other half, SYC's Tirtha Basnet failed to hit the target after failing to beat TSC's custodian Alan Neupane in a one-versus-one situation in the 80th minute. With this gilt-edged chance, he also failed to reduce the arrears.

Later, TSC's striker Peter Segun was awarded man of the match for his scintillating performance.

During the post-match presentation, TSC head coach Meghraj KC said, "We missed our senior players as they are currently in national duty. We won the game comfortably despite fielding junior players."

Likewise, SYC's head coach Pradeep Nepal said we lose the match after repeatedly committing minor errors.

With the completion of quarter-finals, four teams--TSC, Cameroon's Dauphins, NPC and the hosts, Makwanpur-11--- have secured their berth in the semis of the tournament.

In the first semi-finals tomorrow, the hosts, Makwanpur-11 will take on the departmental team, Nepal Police Club (NPC) and TSC will lock their horns in other semi-finals against visiting Cameroon's Dauphins on Thursday.

And the winning team will walk away with Rs 0.8 million and the runner-up team will bag Rs 0.4 million, certificates, medals along with the trophy, according to the organisers.

A total of 10 teams are participating in the competition.