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Kathmandu,Wednesday January 12, 2000 Paush 28th, 2056.
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MMC enter semis in style
-By a Post
Reporter
BIRATNAGAR, Jan
11- Manang Marshyangdi Club, the winners of the just concluded Birthday Cup tournament in
Kathmandu, continued their impressive run when they crushed NRT here today in the last
quarter-final of the Mahendra Gold Cup. Fresh from their 9-1 and 6-1 routing of RCT and
MPC respectively in the last two matches (semi-finals and final of Birthday Cup), they
defeated NRT 3-0 to book a semi-final place.
Right from the
word go, the deadly combination of Basanta duo (Thapa and Gauchan), together with Rajan
Rayamajhi, Kumar Thapa, Rajesh Shahi, Deepak Lama were striking the cord as MMC got the
early lead in the seventh minute of the match.
The goal was
scored by Dipal Lama when the Basanta duo and Rajesh Shahi were involved in a beautiful
move that ended in the goal by Lama.
Two minutes
later, MMC struck again. This time the move initiated from the left flank ending in the
goal by Rajesh Shahi.
Down by two early
goals NRT, keeping their composure, slowly tried to get back into the match to the delight
of the fans who had turned in a large number today. NRT made a number of moves but
twice they missed out on golden opportunities when Raj Kumar Shrestha in the 25th minute
and Hari Thakuri in the 36th minute failed to get the ball inside the net. On both the
occasions they were thwarted by MMC custodian Binod Dongol who in fact had a terrific day
under the bar.
On the other hand
MMC also missed out on a number of opportunities with Rajan Rayamajhi being the culprit on
three occasions. Though Rayamajhi failed to score, the spectators were highly impressed
with his run and dodgin skills.
In the second
half, the match came to life even more. NRT were beginning look confident in their build
up and looked like scoring a goal. Their strikers Hari Thakuri and Raj Kumar were time
again fed with through passes from the midfield but a tight MMC defence was keeping them
at bay. The sides looked well matched in the second half. Only a 28th minute goal by star
striker Basanta Thapa who made it 3-0, separated the two sides in the second half.
The day’s
man of the match award went to Rajan Rayamajhi.
Mahendra Police Club will take on RCT in
the first semi-final tomorrow.
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