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Kathmandu,Friday January 14, 2000 Paush 30th, 2056.
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Tribhuvan
Club stun MMC, set up final clash with RCT
-By a Post Reporter
BIRATNAGAR,
Jan 13 - Any hopes of Manang Marshyangdi Club winning two back to back titles evaporated
into thin air when Tribhuvan Club came up with a suprising 2-1 triumph here Thursday in
the second semi-final of the Mahendra Gold Cup football tournament.
MMC, who
had won the King’s Birthday Cup so convincingly last Saturday and sent the defending
champions NRT packing, played a poor game. Even with six national team players in the
side, they looked a mere shadow of themselves.
Tribhuvan
Club, on the other hand, putting in a brave show, virtually took control of the vital
mid-field area. They were quite unlucky though not to get an early breakthrough as
Surendra Shrestha and Suk Bahadur Gurung failed to convert relatively easy chances.
But in the
28th minute, Shrestha gave a nice finish for a 1-0 lead in favour of Tribhuvan Club when
he was put through by Adarsh Malla inside the six-yard box. The move was initiated by
Basant Gurung from the deep and was well propelled through MMC's defence by Gopal
Oli and Prakash Thapamagar.
MMC
mid-fielders Basanta Gauchan, Anil Subba, Kumar Thapa and Deepak Lama pushed hard for
goals but Basanta Thapa and Rajan Rayamajhi were found wanting up front.
Trailng by
a goal, MMC started the second session with more thrust to their game. And five minutes
into the session, Basanta Thapa brought them up to level terms at 1-1, following a nice
collective effort from Prakash Dewan, Kumar Thapa and Deepak Lama.
That goal
from MMC brought more pace to the match and it soon developed into a physical battle as
both teams exchanged a number of attacks. The names of MCC’s Narayan Manandhar and
Suk Bahadur Gurung, Gopal Oli, Prakash Thapamagar went into the referee’s book.
MMC who
held their sway for a good portion of the second half had a couple of chances in which to
wrap up the match. They not only saw those chances go begging, when Basanta Thapa and
Rajan Rayamajhi failed to find the net in the 63rd and 81st minute, but also ran out of
luck.
Towards
the close, MMC’s last defence, Prakash Dewan, while trying to clear a dangerous ball,
put it into his own net after a grave misunderstanding with keeper Binod Dangol, thus
giving a 2-1 passage to Tribhuvan Club into the final.
Tribhuvan
Club goalkeeper Chhunnu Ram Chaudhary, who gave a brilliant display under the bars was
adjudged man of the match. He was just outstanding in the match today, saving more than 20
MMC shots, including several full blooded attempts from close range.
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