Astounding Performance
Three Stars Club reaches the semifinal displaying commendable performance
By A CORRESPONDENT
At a time when there is an extremely negative image of Nepal in international arena, the successful organization of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President's Cup in Kathmandu by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has helped improve the nation's credibility to a certain extent.
Furthermore, the unexpectedly astounding performance by the home team has sent a feel-good aura among the Nepalese sports-lovers coinciding as it does with the inspiring victory of Nepalese cricket team over the fancied United Arab Emirates in the three-day ACC Fast Track tournament.
In the ongoing AFC President's Cup, the Patan-based Three Stars Club (TSC) - the winner of last year's National Martyr Memorial League tournament - has been able to put together brilliant team effort to win Bhutan's Transport United and level a draw with such powerful teams like Tai Power Company of Taiwan and Regar Tadaz of Tajikistan.
The TSC entered into semi-final earning six points, while the league topper Regar Tadaz earned seven points.
TSC, as the runner up of pool A will compete with Dordoi-Dynamo of Kyrgyzstan, the league topper of pool B.
The performance in the league matches of the tournament has established Dordoi as the most likely winner of the title. It secured a place in the semis after it defeated the Sri Lankan Club Blue Star by a huge margin. The Kyrgyz players utilized the height advantage well in the match scoring a goal before 30 seconds of the beginning of the match and winning with a score of 8-1 against Sri Lankans. Earlier, it had won the Hello United of Cambodia with a score of 6-1.
Although, the Blue Star performed bleakly in the match with Dordoi, it was able to secure a place in the semifinals by winning the other two matches. It scored a total of six points after it beat the Hello United of Cambodia in Dasharath Stadium. Earlier, it had secured three points by narrowly defeating the Pakistani club champion Water And Power Development Association (WAPDA) with 1-0.
The Sri Lankan team will play with the league topper of pool A Regar Tadaz of Tajikistan. Regar Tadaz is considered the stronger team in pool A and Dordoi-Dynamo in the pool B.
