Manang thumps home team Chitwan for semifinal spot

Published On: October 24, 2016 09:57 PM NPT By: Ramesh Kumar Paudel

Players of Chitwan XI (L) and Manang Marshyangdi Club in action during their match of the 12th Tuborg Running Shield football tournament in Chitwan on Monday. (Republica)

CHITWAN, Oct 24: National A division club Manang Marsyangdi Club has advanced to the semifinal of the ongoing 12th Tuborg Running Shield registering comfortable 4-0 victory over home team Chitwan-11 on Monday.

In the second quarterfinal match of the tournament held at Campachaur, Narayangadh, goals from African recruit Olawala O Afeez, Binod Rana and Biswas Shrestha sent Manang to the last four defeating Chitwan-11 backed by huge numbers of local fans.

Manang took lead in the early second minute of the game from Olawala O Afeez's goal. Home team who had beaten Himalayan Youth Club of Kailali in the pre-quarter final came under pressure after conceding early goal. However, Manang waited until 32nd minute for second goal as Bimal Rana extended Kathmandu-based club's lead by 2-0. It was Biswas Shrestha's turn to score as he put a ball in the back of the net in the stoppage time of the first half to make the score-line 3-0.

Manang which was leading the game comfortably decided to make substitution of its goalkeeper in the beginning of the second half as it brought on Dip Karki replacing Dipesh Yadav. Chitwan-11 tried to unsettle Manang's substitute goalkeeper as home team's Babu Baniya fired a shot from close range but Dip saved it and conveyed message that he is equally good as Dipesh. Babu's attempt also was denied in the first half by goalkeeper Dipesh.

Olawala netted his personal second goal of the match in the 60th minute and extended Manang's lead by 4-0. After fourth goal, Manang increased its pressure on Chitwan in order to add more goals but failed to score any. As a result, Manang who had defeated United Football Club of Bihar, India 4-1 in the last 16, advanced to the semifinal with thumping 4-0 win. Goal scorer Biswas of the winning side was declared as the man of the match and was handed Rs 10,000.

In the third quarterfinal match of the tournament, departmental team Tribhuvan Army will vie against Himalayan Sherpa on Tuesday.