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| Kathmandu Tuesday March 26, 2002 Chaitra 13, 2058. |
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MPC clinch Mayor Cup
By Himesh Bajracharya
KAKARVITTA, March 25:Jhapa-born striker Hari
Khadka struck twice to lead Mahendra Police Club (MPC) to their fifth title triumph of the
season as they beat visiting Avenue Samilani, Kolkata in the 2nd Mayor Cup Football final
on Monday.
MPC, who had lifted Budda Subba, Birendra
Memorial, Kings Cup and Caravan Cup over the last three months, clinched their 17th title
under the captaincy of Anil Adhikari.
The Police team took the lead in the 16th minute
when Khadka slotted home a light chip shot which Samilani’s goalkeeper Mahesh Giri
failed to read. Although Giri managed to put his hands on the ball, it raced into the net,
bringing a huge cheer among the delighted local crowd.
"I just tried to deceive him and the trick
worked," said ecstatic Khadka after the match.
Pintu Islam leveled the score at 1-1 in the 54th
minute with a brilliant deflected free kick from the right. MPC goalie Sanjiv Shrestha
failed to read the shot after it took a wicked deflection leaving everything to play for
in the match.
But once again the local star proved his
potential when he found the second net with his trademark freekick, which he had
demonstrated on quiet a few occasions. Nine minutes from time, Khadka’s well-executed
curling free kick landed at the back of the net leaving goalie Giri stand still to
ultimately seal the match 2-1.
"I have been working on this sort of
freekick as I am practicing it as my daily rooster," conceded Khadka, who bagged man
of the match and man of the series award after the match amid a defaming roar from his
hometown supporters. This is the fourth time in the last five finals Khadka has clean
sweeped tournament’s coveted awards.
The match was witnessed by some 10,000 fans from
surrounding areas of India and Nepal.
Samilani players failed to cope Police challenge
in the final, as they never looked comfortable throughout. "Today we played with the
opponents who are much better in every department than us," said Surjit Chakraborti,
the team coach of Samilani.
On the other hand, MPC history creating captain
Adhikari was all praise for the local star. "We played well and Hari especially was
instrumental up front which led us to yet another title," he said.
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