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Kathmandu Friday August 17, 2001 Bhadra 01, 2058.
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Elite’s Red set up title clash with Elite’s Blue
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Aug 16 - Elite’s Co-ed (Red) set up a title clash with
Elite’s Blue as they defeated Learning Realm International (LRI) School 2-1 in the
second semi-final of the Inter-school ANFA Youth Football Championship played on Thursday.
Although the Elite’s— packed with players from ANFA Youth
Academy— looked a better of the two yet LRI gave them run for their money.
LRI’s Bikarna Thapa had a glorious scoring opportunity in the 25th
minute but his hastily taken shot went straight into the hands of the Elite’s
goalkeeper, Bikash Malla.
But Elite’s did not waste the scoring chance when it came on their way
seven minutes later. Susan Bhandari’s shot unleashed from the edge of the penalty
area was misjudged by the LRI ‘keeper Tanka Dhimal only to see it go over his head
and into the net, giving Elite’s Red a 1-0 lead.
The goal instilled the much needed fuel into the Elite’s boys, producing
waves of offensive moves. But they failed to add any more as their poor finishing put paid
to the chances.
After the change of ends, LRI, making amends to their first half mistakes,
started to push hard for the all important equaliser. But again they met with the same
fate as that of their opposition—poor finishing.
Even as LRI’s attackings were coming in waves, they failed to gather
themselves on time to prevent the opposition’s counter-attack. And Elite’s
Saugat Subba did just that 17 minutes into the second half to take the lead to 2-0. Subba,
demonstrating his sublime skill first lost a couple of defenders on the run and gave it a
perfect finish rounding off the LRI goalie. Minutes later, he nearly scored his second
goal of the match but his shot was just off target.
LRI’s tireless effort finally paid off in the 89th minute. Shekhar Thapa
of Elite’s, coming under relentless pressure from the rival strikers, put the ball
into his own net as he was trying to clear the danger to reduce the margin to 2-1.
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