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MMC, MPC storm into semifinals BY A STAFF REPORTER Kathmandu, March13: Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and Mahendra Police Club(MPC) demolished opponents in high scoring matches and earned their place in semifinals of the Khukuri Gold Cup Soccer Championship today. Friends Club of Kupondole have already booked their place in the semifinal. The remaining single semifinal spot will be decided after the first match tomorrow between Tribhuwan Club and Rani Pokhari Team. Thapa's scoring spree: The favourites MMC's striker Basant Thapa went on scoring spree to destroy hapless Three Stars 7-2 in a match that failed to generate thrills. For the MMC match was vital just to gain the group winners spot and they did not fail in doing so after thrashing rivals with wide margins. Thapa scored his individual five goals to share the highest scorer's place with fellow striker Nabin Neupane. Both have scored five goals each so far. Having concede just a single goal during the whole first half, the hapless Three Stars could not keep at bay the marauding strikers Basant Thapa and Nabin Neupane. Thapa after sliding home his first goal in first half after beating the advancing Three Stars goalie Ramesh Lama went on rampage in the second half. He struck his second goal from the close range collecting a cross from Neupane in the 65th minute of game. Thapa scored his hat-trick through a twenty yard scorching shot that went into the net giving no chance to goalie Lama in the 82nd minute. He then collected a Narayan Manandhar corner pass and hit his fourth goal in the 88th minute while in the penultimate minute he performed a solo act to run from the midfield to score his fifth and his team's seventh goal. Saroj KC and Neupane had scored MMC's second and third goal in the 58th and 60th minute respectively. The Three Stars two goals came from Ujan Shrestha and substitute Ramesh Rana Magar. Shrestha converted a penalty shot while Rana Magar capitalized on MMC defense lapses in the second half's injury time to give his team the second goal. Budathoki strikes hat trick: Earlier in the first match of the day, MPC team that has just two points from their earlier two matches downed Sankata Boys Sporting Club 4-1 through striker Ramesh Budathoki's hat-trick. Having taken full command of the first half, MPC's Gyanu Sherchan gave his team the dream lead in the 7th minute converting a corner pass from Kishore Limbu. The second goal for MPC came from striker Ramesh Budathoki who capitalized a ghastly mistake by Sankata keeper Ashok Bajracharya in the 28th minute as Bajracharya failed to collect a shot from MPC's Dev Narayan Chaudhari and Budathoki tapped the ball past the goalie to consolidate the lead. The mounting pressure of MPC again resulted in the goal in the 37th minute when Budathoki slammed home his team's third goal. Sankata boys, who had some chances in the first half, tried very hard to come into the picture in the second half. During the early part of the second half they made some effective forays into MPC's area. During Sankata raids, Sunil Tuladhar, who had been fouled by MPC defender Sandesh Shrestha inside the penalty area, converted his penalty kick into the goal in the 69th minute. However, Sankata's all efforts to restore the parity in the second half were blown away in the 86th minute. An advancing Budathoki who many thought were off-side, scored his hat-trick to send Sankata crashing out of the tournament. Today's matches: Other Stories |
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