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MMC down MPC to lift title
DHARAN, DEC 28 - Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) collected their fourth silverware of the season following a 1-0 final win over arch-rivals Mahendra Police Club (MPC) in the Budhasubba Gold Cup Football tournament here at Dharan Stadium on Saturday.
Star striker Basanta Thapa struck the solitary goal of the match as early as in the fifth minute through a spectacular freekick. Once again, MPC custodian Mani Chamling failed to judge Basanta’s freekick struck from just outside the penalty area. Chamling’s vulnerability on the air was felt during the National League and in the recently concluded invitational tournament where he had conceded similar goals to the same opponents. Chamling has been keeping for MPC for a year after regular goalie Sanjeev Joshi was injured at the same stadium.The win was MMC’s second in this month. Earlier, they had ousted MPC 4-3 in the invitational tournament held in the capital. It was MMC’s first appearance in the final of the Buddhasubba Gold Cup while MPC was playing their fourth final out of five Budhasubba Cups. Trailing by a goal, the three-time champions created several moves in the match but failed to level the match.Out-of-form Hari Khadka squandered as many as five chances in the match. MMC goalie Binod Dangol denied MPC’s first attack in the 15th minute when Hari connected a goal-bound shot from inside the box. Hari fumbled again in the 21st while Ramesh Budathoki also failed to fire in the 33rd minute. MMC played more defensive after scoring an early goal and that worked ultimately."We came here to lift the trophy and beating MPC in the final is something special," MMC coach Arjun Lama said after the match. Lama also thanked local supporters for providing overwhelming support to the league champions. Some 20 thousand spectators were present to grace the final between Nepali football’s two elite clubs."This is a part of football," dejected MPC captain Anil Adhikari told The Kathmandu Post. "We failed to win despite a sincere performance from boys," he added. He also admitted that the absence of striker Ramesh Budathoki in the second half resulted in goal drought. Budathoki was sent to hospital after colliding with MMC defender just before the half-time.
Surendra Tamang of Dharan ‘Yellow’ walked away with highest-scorer award while Hari Khadka was adjudged man of the match. Likewise, Basanta Thapa bagged a 14-inch colour TV for being adjudged man of the series and Ananta Thapa of MPC won fair-play award. The organisers Dharan Football Club also assisted MPC goalkeeper Sanjiv Joshi with Rs 5,000. Joshi had sustained injury in the last episode of the tournament.Posted on: 2003-12-29 06:03
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