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Kathmandu,Friday January 28, 2000 Magh 14th, 2056.
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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)
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