MPC bring down high-flying Galaxian

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KATHMANDU, Jan 19: Galaxian Club’s dream run in Birendra Memorial Invitational football tournament came to a shattering halt with a 4-1 semifinal thrashing at the hands of Mahendra Police Club (MPC) on Saturday.

Galaxian Club, promoted to the country’s ‘A’ division last year, fell against strong MPC team studded with national players.

MPC will take on either Friends Club or Manang Marsyangdi Club on Tuesday.

MPC players stamped their authority as early as in the 3rd minute of the match through a goal from Hari Khadka. Khadka, lapped the ball released by MPC veteran Dev Narayan Chaudhary and demonstrated a well-judged chip shot that beat Galaxian goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa fair and square.

Khadka’s early lead put tremendous pressure on the young Galaxian team. But they had their share of moments as well. In the 14th minute, Ganesh Limbu had a close look at the goal when he hit a brilliant leftfooter at the left corner of the post. But MPC goalie Sanjeev Joshi was equally brilliant enough to punch the ball outside the bar.

Two minutes later Limbu made another attempt through a left flank cross to Surendra Tamang, whose shot landed at the lap of Joshi.

Before the Galaxians could make further moves, Ramesh Budathoki doubled the lead in the 27th minute. He snatched the ball from defender Kushal Poudel and dribbled past two defenders before unleashing a well-executed shot to take 2-0 lead.

In 38th minute, Galaxian boys again came up with a good chance but Joshi denied Ritesh Khadka demonstrating sublime skill under the bar.

Police team were on the driver’s seat at half-time with 2-0 lead.

In the second half, the Police side scored two more goals. Budathoki found his second in the 54th minute when Khadka centered him a beautiful pass from the right. Wasting no time, Budathoki buried home a mighty shot inflicting more troubles for the Galaxian.

In the 66th minute, MPC Rakesh Shrestha committed a back tackle on Surendra Tamang forcing referee Surendra Sikhrakar to point at the spot . Tamang, himself was given the charge to get the consolation and he coolly scored to reduce the deficit at 3-1.

In the 78th minute, Khadka scored his second goal through a classic freekick from inches outside the 18-yard area after Sal Bahadur Dhimal’s foul on him.

Khadka reached near to his hat-trick when he had only Ritesh Thapa to beat under the goal post in the 82nd minute. But unlucky Khadka left the ball, thinking referee Sikhrakar blew the whistle as some notorious spectator blew the whistle when he was getting ready to take shot.

"Our opponents were strong and the presence of national players in the opposition camp demoralised our boys," said Galaxian coach Amrit Panta, who, despite the loss, showed satisfaction to his team performance.

MPC’s captain Anil Adhikari, who evaluated his opponent as more than what he had expected, viewed that his team played the match in accordance to their strategies.

Sunday’s SF 2:00 PM Friends’ Club Vs Manang Marsyangdi Club

Nepal bag 3 gold medals

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KATHMANDU, Jan 19: Nepali karatekas bagged three gold medals in the International Amateur Karate Championship held in the Indian city Nagpur, said Nepal International Sotokan Karate Federation (NISKF) in a press release received here on Saturday.

In the Championship held from Jan 11-13, Nepali karateka Dinesh Maharjan of 50-kg weight category was declared the ‘best fighter’ . Ram Shrestha won in open weight category while Suman Shrestha bagged gold medal in single kata.

Nepal also clinched the gold in team kata demonstrated by Rajan Tuladhar, Satrughan Maharjan and Dinesh Shrestha. Likewise, Satrughan Maharjan claimed one silver medal while Rajan Tuladhar, Surendra Karanjit, Sailendra Tamrakar and Rajan Tuladhar managed to win bronze.