RCT in hunt for title defense
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DHARAN, MAR 31 -
Rani Pokhari Team (RCT) stayed in the hunt to retain their Budha Subba Gold Cup Football title after scraping past a depleted Three Star side 5-4 in penalties on Wednesday.
Defending champions RCT were lucky to see Three Star’s much reliable player Raj Kumar Ghising miss the target in the shootout, which had ensued after the match ended goalless.
Earlier, Ghising had put Three Star in front in the 70th minute only for the assistant referee to poke the ball out of the net ruling it off-side. He also had an 18-yard attempt in 17th minute cruely denied by the cross bar. In the penalty shoot-out, Kirshna Kumar, Shekhar Limbu, Antola Angomuru, Prabesh Katwal and goalkeeper Dilip Chettri all converted their attempts. Anil Ojha, Buddha Chemong, Bikram Lama and Bijay Dhimal were on the mark for Three Star, who were without the service of five of their first team players - all out due to international duties. Moreover, they had to make do with players who were
nursing injuries picked up in the previous matches.
RCT will now have to wait for the semi-final match against Nepal Police and Manang Marshyangdi Club to know their opponents in the final to be held on Saturday. After the match, RCT coach Madhu Karki said his team had to wait till the penalties to bag the three points because of the two missed opportunities in the 30th and 35th minute. Shekhar Limbu in the half-hour mark and Swal Jung had just the keeper to beat.
The two miscued chances meant Karki had to apply a defensive strategy to hold the rather aggressive Three Star. His strategy payed dividends as RCT not only managed to keep a clean sheet in the remaining minutes of the match but also forged a wining result. Three Star looked the better side in the opening 40 minutes. They had their first crack on the goals in the fourth minute through Yogesh Gurung’s header before Ghising saw his attempt denied by the cross bar.
Posted on: 2011-03-31 08:50
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