KATHMANDU, Oct 3: Nepal Police Club finished on top of group D on Monday with a 3-1 win over Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club that completed the quarterfinal line up of the Ncell Cup Football Championship under way at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu.
With equal seven points as that of unbeaten Police, Bauddha FC satisfied for the second position on the basis of goal superiority. Both of them have already secured quarterfinal places.
Meanwhile, Jawalakhel finished at the bottom of the table without single point and Saraswati on third place with three points.
As the group D winner, Police will meet comparatively easy opponent CMG Club Sankata, the runner up of group C, in the quarterfinal and Bauddha will vie with McDowell´s Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT), the winner of group C.
On Wednesday´s match, Jawalakhel achieved its first goal of the season as well as the fastest goal of the tournament. Raj Paudel put Bauddha ahead in just 26 second with a powerful strike from the edge of the area to end Jawalakhel´s goal drought after 361 minute.
The departmental team replied soon through its skipper Jumanu Rai who hit the equalizer in the 11th minute. Rai scored with an easy shot from the area in pass of Bharat Shah. Police could have taken lead in the 42nd minute, had not unmarked Parbat Pandey tapped above far wide from the close range.
Bharat Shah (Blue) from Nepal Police and Nandu Lal Kamu Magar from JYC vie for ball. (Photo: Bijay Rai)
Police´s quest for another goal was materialized after the interval when unmarked Ramesh Katuwal achieved target in the 53rd minute with a low ball strike from area in Bhola Silwal pass.
Bharat Shah sealed the victory in the 70th minute in custodian Min Basnet´s rebounder of his own shot from the area.
Jawalakhe also missed some scoring chances. In the 73rd minute Firon Magrati hit inches wide while beating Police goalie Ritesh Thapa in one-on-one situation. Police goalie Thapa punched Margati´s shot to safety in the injury time of first half. In the 25th minute, Thapa denied Prabin Karki´s 25-yard strike.
Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha lauded the opponent´s performance during the post match conference tagging every team of similar standard. "It was difficult for us until the 25 minute of second half," Shrestha said who had guided the team to title of British Gurkha Cup some four months ago.
Jawalakhel coach Rajaram Karki said that his came up with better show than of previous matches. Karki said that he had fielded four new players in the starting line up against Police.
The quarterfinal matches will begin from Thursday with, Nepal Army Club taking on Iceberg Madhyapur Youth Association.
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