Taking revenge against Tribhuvan Army Club last year, the 'A' Division League winners Church Boys United have reached the semi-finals of the 24th Aha-Rara Pokhara Gold Cup Football being held in Pokhara. In the last edition, Church Boys lost 2-1 to Army in the semi-finals, this time they took revenge by 1-0.

Raj Bhusal scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute of the game for Church Boys on Monday. Raj scored a header from Naveen Lama's corner and did not give any chance to the opposition defender and goalkeeper Vikesh Kuthu. By breaking the scoreless situation at the end of the game, Raj played a role in defeating the former champions Army. Church Boys, who were satisfied with the Budhasubba Gold Cup runners-up in Dharan, want to break their titleless streak in Aha-Rara.

Church boys formed two teams and played together in Dharan and Pokhara. In Pokhara, the team under the captaincy of Serge Dika defeated NRT in sudden death to reach the quarterfinals. On Saturday in Dharan, the team under the captaincy of Anant Tamang was defeated by NRT in the final. Sameer Tamang and Rohan Karki, who came to Pokhara from Budhasubba, were played as first choice by coach Chetnarayan Shrestha. However, after Karki was injured, Raj entered the field in his place in the 25th minute of the match.

Army national team full of experienced players took the field under the captaincy of Gillespiejung Karki. The team had goalkeeper Vikesh Kuthu, Navayug Shrestha, last year's best player in Aha-Rara Bimal Pandey, last year's top scorer Dinesh Heinjan along with experienced players like Neerajan Dhami. Army had to wash their hands from the competition after not being able to hold on in the last minute of the competitive game.

In the eighth minute of the game, Milan Rai of Church Boys' cross from the left side, Abayomi Fakun's shot from the box failed to hit the direction of the post. Army failed to take the lead in the 21st minute. Dinesh Heinzen's header from captain Gillespie's pass was saved by Church Boys goalkeeper Tikendra Singh Thapa. He managed to keep the ball out with his hands when he reached the post. Army missed another opportunity in the 29th minute of the

game. Dinesh Heinzen's shot from a free kick in the attacking area was headed by Neerajan Dhami from the box but went over the crossbar. In the 48th minute of the match, Neerajan attempted to head in Gillespie's cross from the right. Dishant Rai's strike was saved by the opposing goalkeeper as soon as he touched the ball. Soon after, the Church Boys missed a beautiful opportunity on the counter attack.

Abayomi Fakunle's cross from the right was flicked on by an unmarked Samir Tamang. In the 57th minute of the match, Milan Rai's header hit the post after Raj's pass. Milan Rai was declared the player of the match.

'A' Division League winners Church Boys defeated NRT in the pre-quarterfinals to enter the quarterfinals. Tribhuvan Army had a bye and played the quarterfinals against Church Boys. Church Boys will play the semi-final against another departmental team, Nepal Police Club, on January 30. The last quarterfinal match on Tuesday will be between Thunderbolt North United Sikkim and Black Bulls Football Club of Uzbekistan. Thunderbolt defeated Sankata and made it to the quarterfinals. Uzbekistan team is playing directly after getting a bye.