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Kathmandu Wednesday February 20, 2002 Falgun 08, 2058.
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MMC humiliate NRT
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Feb 19: Manang Marsyangdi Club (MMC) forwards Rajan Rayamajhi and
Basanta Thapa struck hattricks to guide their team to a tennis like 6-2 win over New Road
Team (NRT) in the first semifinal of King’s Cup knockout football tournament on
Tuesday.
NRT suffered from their defensive lapses and poor finishing in the match
despite possessing the ball longer than MMC.
"We are experimenting a new placement of our players, which worked at
our previous matches but not today," said former national captain Raju Shakya, who is
keeping vigil of NRT.
"They converted almost all of their chances but our boys failed, which
proved decisive in the match." Shakya added.
NRT played some brilliant football at the midfield but an early MMC goal
forced them to attack providing the opportunity for experienced Rayamajhi and Thapa to
take firm control at the front.
The sublime dribbling skill was the key for Rayamajhi’s treble while
Thapa scored all his goals through brilliant headers.
Thapa headed home the opener for MMC in the 15th minute when Rayamajhi
supplied a perfect pass from the right to give MMC a 1-0 lead.
After trailing by a goal, NRT made some brilliant moves but Hari Thakuri,
Bimal Kari and Naresh Darsandhari all failed to convert the opportunities.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Rayamajhi scored his first and the
most spectacular goal. He dribbled three NRT defenders inside the penalty area and
skillfully hit the ball, which kissed the net before NRT goalie Sunder Shrestha could do
anything.
The occasional NRT moves kept audiences’ hope alive to watch a
competitive match but all their hopes dissapeared when Rayamajhi doubled his personal
tally a minute into the second half.
In the 73rd minute, substitute Mandip Maharjan found the net on Hari
Thakuri’s pass for NRT but three minutes later Rayamajhi scored his third to give MMC
a comfortable 4-1 lead. Rayamajhi, capitalising on the blunder from keeper Shrestha while
attempting to collect a Deepak Lama shot, coolly pushed the ball inside the net to achieve
the fifth hattrick in the tournament.
In the 77th minute NRT’s Ramesh Sinkaman scored the second goal for his
team created by Thakuri. But the goal invited more trouble for NRT as Thapa got the
opportunity to score two goals, three minutes and a minute off the time. He connected the
cross off Rajesh Khadgi to become the sixth player to score a treble in the tournament.
"We are playing perfect football and hope my boys will play the same
sort of attacking football in the final," said Birat Jung Shahi, who used the 4-4-2
format in the match.
Basanta Thapa was adjudged man of the match while Nigma Tendy Sherpa of
Junbeshi, Solukhumbu became the lucky winner of ticket lottery and was rewarded with a
gift hamper by Adidas Company.
Wednesday Semifinal: Mahendra Police Club vs Kathmandu
Club (2:00 PM)
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