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Kathmandu Sunday January 20, 2002 Magh 07, 2058.
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MPC bring down high-flying
Galaxian
Post Report
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
Other Story
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