S Korea into ANFA Coca Cola Cup final

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 27- Demonstrating better football in every department, Soongsil University of South Korea chalked out a comprehensive 3-0 victory over youthful Nepal Blue to sail into the finals of the ANFA Coca Cola Invitational Football tournament here today.

Contrary to expectation, the first semi-final clash failed to produce much delight for a partisan crowd that hardly had anything to cheer about throughout the match.

It was a lacklustre performance from the Nepalese side which frankly could do nothing but run hither and thither. On the other hand the Korean team was in control of the match right from the word go exhibiting superb ball control. They put together a number of moves but they were not threatening enough to cause much concern to the Nepalese defence. Until the first twenty odd minutes, the Nepalese defence, manned by Samir Nemkul, Rajendra Tamang and Akash Nemwang, held out superbly and the boys came up with timely tackles to save the side from any embarassement early on.

In the 23rd minute, a Korean move from the left flank resulted in the first goal. Park Jong Woo’s long aerial cross found  a waiting Do Hwa Sung who calmly stroked the ball into the net to give his side a 1-0 lead.

The goal seemed to urge the Koreans even more as they relentlessly surged ahead, now looking comparatively calm and more threatening than before.

On the other hand nothing seemed to work for Nepal Blue under the continuous onslaught from the opposition. Nepal’s first move of any authority came as late as in the 34th minute of the match when Rajan Rayamajhi and Chandra Gurung seemed to strike the right combination. However, the hope quickly evaporated as Rayamajhi was found short of ideas and technique in a one on one situation.

And the only shot that Nepal had at the Korean post was Sukra Tamang’s feeble header in the fag end of the first half.

Any hope of a Nepali fightback quickly faded away early in the second half(53rd minute) as Akash Nemwang, trying to clear the ball, slammed it past his own goalie to put the Koreans ahead 2-0.

Six minutes later, the Koreans could have gone three goals up but Do Sung’s attempt was foiled by Manik Shakya, the Nepali custodian. Sung could not beat an advancing Shakya and his lob went way above the cross bar.

The error was quickly compensated by newcomer Lee Jung Ryui whose second touch with the ball saw Korea’s third goal.

Nepal also made a number of changes in the second half but nothing worked for them. They were eventually humbled by a better side.

Nepal Red takes on Royal Thai Airforce in the second semi-final on Friday.

TODAY’S MATCH
NEPAL RED VS ROYAL THAI AIRFORCE (2:30 pm)

Jhapa, Kailali score big wins in women’s football

-By a Post Reporter

BIRATNAGAR, Jan 27 - Jhapa Eleven thrashed Saptari by 5-0 Thursday to keep their convincing run in the Mangla Devi women’s league football.

The match played at the local Martyr stadium witnessed Jhapa women, playing entertaining football throughout, subdue their opposition.

Hardly four minutes on, Jhapa went 1-0 up through the goal of Dhana Kumari Subba after receiving a pass from teammate Kavita Gurung.

As Jhapa maintained pressure on Saptari, Sita Khadka nailed another in the 25th minute to make it 2-0 at the end of the first half.

The goalspree did not stop there as they made repeated raids down the rival territory. The combinational between Kavita Gurung and Dhana Kumari Subba resulted in yet another goal eighteen minutes into the second session. Gurung was the provider and Subba the finisher.

In the 64th minute, Luna Pradhan accounted for the fourth goal while Gurung also found the target four minutes later to complete a comfortable 5-0 win.

Elsewhere in Nepalgunj, Kailali looked even more impressive in their 7-0 win over Rupandehi in the another leg of the same tournament.

The victory was largely due to individual brilliance from the national player, Chandra Bhandari, who scored a hat-trick in the one-sided match.

Sita Thapa opened the Kailali’s scoring as early in the 3rd minute. They went on to add four more for an unassailable 5-0 lead at half-time.

Bhanu Bhakta set up final with Little Angel’s

-By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 27 - Bhanu Bhakta Memorial College entered the final of the Galaxy Youth Cup football tournament, following a convincing 4-1 win over Campion Academy here Thursday.

Bhanu Bhakta, spearheaded by skillful display of Sandip Mahat, remained at the top from the start of play.  Mahat scored all but one goals to complete a hat-trick in the match.

The first two goals came in the 15th and 35th minute respectively while the hat-trick goal was struck towards the close with just few seconds remaining.

He had a hand in the Bhanu Bhakta’s other goal as well, setting up a beautiful pass for Rajesh Katuwal to scored the team’s third goal.

Trailing by 3-0 at half-time, Campion Academy’s lone consolation came in the 68th minute when the referee penalised Bhanu Bhakta for holding the ball for too long. Tika Rai scored off the resultant free-kick.

Bhanu Bhakta will now meet Little Angel’s in the final on Saturday.