DHANGADHI, Jan 9: A-Division outfit Ruslan Three Star Club (TSC) made a winning comeback in the ongoing Far-western Khaptad Gold Cup football tournament, after a hiatus of around one and a half years. 

At the match played at Dhangadhi Stadium on Monday, Buddha Chemjong’s brace helped TSC secure the quarterfinal place with a 3-1 win over Jhapa XI.

In a happening match where four goals were scored within a span of nine minutes, African player Martin gave TSC the lead by scoring the first goal in the 34th minute. He utilized the opportunity when the opponent team’s goalkeeper Kishor Giri was out of position. Chemjong doubled the lead for TSC five minutes after the first goal, but Karna Chemjong pulled one back for Jhapa in the 41st minute. 
TSC’s Chemjong restored the two-goal lead in the 43rd minute to give them a 3-1 lead before the end of the first half. 

Even though both the teams got plenty of chances to score, they both were unsuccessful. TSC’s Chemjong was rewarded with the man-of-the-match for his contributions. He got a purse of Rs 10,000. 

TSC will now face departmental team Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) for the semifinal place on Thursday. Bhutan’s Druk Star and Agni Rupandehi will vie against each other on Tuesday. 

TSC, which had qualified for the second round of the AFC Cup after finishing as the group winner in Mongolia in August, missed the opportunity to take part in the playoffs due to the negligence of Nepal’s football governing body ANFA.

The AFC had decided not to take in TSC for the tournament as ANFA had failed to submit the first division club’s registration on time. 

The TSC had decided not to play any football tournament until ANFA gave them Rs 60 million in compensation. 

The club had recently settled for a compensation amount of Rs 15 million in a deal with ANFA reached under the aegis of National Sports Council.

 
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