Gucc’s hat-trick humbles Bhutan 6-0

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 21 - The third ANFA-Coca Cola International Invitational football tournament began at Dashrath stadium Friday with Soong Sil University of South Korea humbling the Bhutanese national side by a tennis-like 6-0 scoreline in the opening Group A match.

Bhutan, who are reported to participate the Asian Cup qualifiers following the tournament were no match to the talented South Korean side. The final scoreline only suggests the wide gulf between the Far East and South Asia.

The newly appointed German coach, Klaus Ebbinghausen of Bhutan, who was watching the side play in any major tournament for the first time since he was put in charge, witnessed the Koreans mesmerize his boys right from the kick off.

The quick Koreans were virtually unstoppable as they kept incessant pressure on Bhutan with waves of attacks.

They narrowly missed to find the net in the third minute as striker Ko Ki Gucc hit the near post and Bhutanese keeper Jigme Singhe easily grabbed Do Hwa Sung’s shot on rebound.

But barely after seven minutes, Sung made amends to the early miss with a superb volley off a measured left cross from Lee Young Wook to put his side into a 1-0 lead.

Thereafter, Bhutan, seeing no other option pulled everyone back to tackle the brisk Korean attacks. That seemed to have little effect on the Koreans as they easily built rooms for themselves, playing some long diagonal passes.

And only two minutes after the opening goal, Gucc made it 2-0. The lanky striker easily outwitted the defence and guided his powerful header into the roof of the net on a long well guided drop ball from Park Yoon Hwa.

Hwa was brilliant on the right flank, setting up string of passes on the restless running as well as testing the rival keeper from long rangers.

The Korean goal spree continued even as the drum beats of the small Korean crowd gained their volume. And in the 24th minute, Park Jong Woo scored the third goal with a powerful shot after a scramble.

Bhutanese were little lucky to be penalized with a spot-kick in the 30th minute, for what it seemed as a fair tackle by the defenders on Gucc. And skipper Kima Jang Hyun, the playmaker of the side converted it into fourth goal.

The highlight of the match, however, was Gucc who showing his exemplary skills completed a hat-trick. He found his second in the 33rd minute through a header and Park Yoon Hwa was once again the provider from the right.

But it was his hat-trick goal in the 80th minute that caught everyone’s imagination. Demonstrating an exquisite ball controlling, he took a long pass from the middle on to his chest and unleashed a picture perfect volley which went like a cannonball pass the keeper for Koreans’ authoritative 6-0 win.

Bhutanese were lucky though to go down 0-5 at the half-time, as the crosspiece came to their rescue on quite a number of times during the ninety minutes. They, unlike a forgetful first half with a lone corner in the 26th minute, began to surge ahead gradually with some nice moves in the middle as the Koreans took a little bit of backseat.

They had a clear chance to reduce the margin nine minutes into the second session. But Dinesh Chhetri disappointed everyone at the Bhutanese camp by hitting the ball straight to the keeper.

Today’s match
Thai Army, Thailand vs Rahamad Gunj, Bangladesh (2:30pm)

NATA to play friendly cricket match against Malaysian Airlines

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 21- A friendly invitational match between Nepal Association of Travel Agents (NATA) and Malaysia Airlines Invitational XI is going to be played at the Tribhuvan University Stadium here tomorrow.

President of NATA, Bhola Bikram Thapa said that the day long cricket festival is aimed at promoting the goodwill and friendship between the two countries.

Komal Pandey, technical coordinator of the tournament, commenting on the players included in the NATA squad said that the players have been selected from the corporate houses on the basis of their showing in the recent six a side cricket tournament. Cricketers like Parash Joshi (Kantipur Publications), Srikantha(Surya Tobacco) have been picked on their showing in the tournament while crikceters like Prafulla Baidhya (Buddha Air), Pradeep Karki (Mountain Air) have been selected from Airlines. The squad also includes invitees like Subrat Pandy, Pukar Pant.

Similarly, R S Jung, one of the players from Malyasia Invitational XI informed that all the cricketers included in their team comprises of Travel Agents of India.

A keen contest is expected in the friendly encounter which will be 40 overs per side game.

The Squad: 
NATA Invitational XI--Pradeep Karki (Captain), Prafulla Bhaidhya, Srikantha, Subrat Pandey, Pradeep Raj Pandey, Ramendra Jung, Rakesh Popli, Bhupi, Santosh Lama, Parash Joshi, Pukar Pant, Sandesh Acharya, Ujjwol Pandey, Prabhat Pandey, RR Pandey and Raju Rana.

Malaysia Invitational XI--Vikram Kapoor (Captain), Ashish Handa, Navin Bhatia, Nishesh Khanna, Arun Upadhaya, Manish Mathur, Manoj Mallik, Tarun Mayal, Manoj Mehta, R S Jung, Bipin Sharma and Sanjaya Dutta.

Sahara to face off with Khukuri Club in final

-By a Post Reporter

BHAIRAHAWA, Jan 21- Organisers Melbourne Cricket club’s winning streak ended here today in the second semi-final as they went down to Sahara India tamely.

By virtue of this win Sahara India will now clash against Khukuri Club, Bhairahawa in the final.

Chasing Sahara India’s huge total of 244 in the allocated 40 overs, Melbourne Cricket club were all out for a paltry 104 runs.

Sahara’s Firoj Raju produced a deadly spell of spin bowling in which he broke the backbone of Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) with three crucial wickets.

Raju also bagged the prized scalp of MCC’s opener Shree Ram Lama who was going great guns on 46 that was studded with six fours and one six. But Raju bowled him in his very first over to put brakes on rampaging MCC batsmen.

After Shree Ram’s departure the side lost wickets at regular interval to be all out for 104 runs in 28 overs.

Earlier, electing to bat first, Sahara India’s huge looking 244-8 of the stipulated 40 overs was build around openers Santosh Yadav’s hardhitting 76 runs and Santosh Sharam’s 36 runs. After openers put on 86 runs for the first wicket, the middle order also contributed handsomely to take the total beyond 200 mark and near 250 mark.

Yadav’s strokefilled 76 was studded with 13 fours and came of 72 balls while his partner’s equally entertaining knock contained five fours and one six.

Santosh Yadav was adjudged today’s man of the match.