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Kathmandu Tuesday January 15, 2002 Magh 02, 2058.
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Friends’ Club, NRT into
last eight
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Jan 14: Friends’ Club and NRT
both emerged victorious by virtue of golden goal on Monday to make it through to the
quarterfinals of the Birendra Memorial Invitational football tournament.
Nirajan Rayamajhi scored a decisive goal 28
minutes into extra time to give Friends’ Club a 1-0 win over Tribhuvan Club. NRT,
meanwhile, got the better of the visiting side Sikkim XI by 2-1 after Hari Thakuri netted
his team’s second goal in the 11th minute of the extra time.
Friends’ Club, taking charge of the
proceedings, made repeated raids on Tribhuvan Club territory but the latter’s nicely
knitted defence kept Friends’ Club attackers at bay. Army goalkeeper Binod Chhetri,
who replaced their veteran ‘keeper Channu Ram Chaudhary, came up with a string of
breathtaking saves causing frustrations in the Friends’ Club camp.
Bal Gopal Maharjan had a great opportunity in
the 44th minute to put Friends’ Club into lead but he was off the target as his
header was wide by a whisker.
Army team, who apart from few sporadic attacking
moves, was otherwise confined to the defense allowing an easy outing for Friends’
Club custodian Upendra Man Singh under the bar. The match, however, prolonged into the
sudden death extra time as neither team could break the deadlock in the regulation 90
minutes.
Friends’ Club could have sealed their
victory eight minutes into the first session of extra period but Rayamajhi, tournament’s
leading goalscorer with 6 goals, spurned a golden opportunity, shooting a close-range shot
straight into the hands of Chhetri.
The second match between NRT and Sikkim XI was a
closely contested affair. After much fettering, NRT moved 1-0 up through Amir Dangol in
the 42nd minute. Dangol, collecting a pass from Hari Thakuri inside the penalty area,
finished it off his low right footer into the net.
But NRT’s joy was shortlived. Sikkim XI,
launching a well-coordinated move, restored parity at 1-1 when their striker Binod Pradhan
scored off Kiran Tamang pass, shooting the ball on the raise.
After the scoreless second half, Thakuri put NRT
into the quarterfinals with a goal in the half of extra session. NRT’s Sundar Nepal
shot was blocked by Sikkim defender Lezang Lepcha but Thakuri, who was perfectly
positioned, slotted home off the deflection.
RCT will take on Galaxian Club in the first
quarterfinal on Tuesday.
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