Two-time winners Bhujung were eliminated from the tournament after losing 4-3 in a tiebreaker to 'A' Division League champions Church Boys United.
What you should know
Laligurans Bhujung's journey ended in the quarterfinals on Friday after they failed to control the final three minutes of the 33rd Triveni Cup football tournament underway in Besisahar, Lamjung.
Two-time winners Bhujung were eliminated from the tournament after losing 4-3 in a tiebreaker to ‘A’ Division League champion Church Boys United.
The first half ended goalless, but Laligurans’ Phaguram Tharu scored in the seventh minute of the second half to give them the lead. But with 3 minutes left in the game, Church Boys’ Vivek Rai equalized in the 42nd minute, sending the game into a tiebreaker.
Church Boys’ Vivek Rai, foreigner Abdul Farooqui, Sudeep Magar and Roshan Tamang scored in the tiebreaker. Manoj Rai’s shot hit the bar. Bhujung’s Sudeep Gurung, Omprakash Chaudhary and Ashish Gurung scored. Bishnu Chaudhary and Suleman Magar missed. Church Boys’ goalkeeper Rubin Bogati, who made a decisive performance, was declared ‘Man of the Match’ and received a prize of Rs 10,000.
Now Church Boys United will compete with home team Langdidevi Nalma for the finals at 1 pm on Sunday. Langdidevi defeated ‘A’ Division club New Road Team (NRT) 9-8 in a sudden death to reach the quarterfinals.
In the other quarterfinal, home team Lamjung Marsyangdi defeated host Triveni Youth Club 5-3 in a tiebreaker to make it to the semifinals. The match went to a tiebreaker after a goalless draw in the scheduled 90 minutes at the Sahaji Stadium in Besisahar.
Marsyangdi’s Aaron Thapa, Avinash Syangtan, Ningma Ghising, foreign players Olaole Afiz and Eller scored goals. Triveni’s Yubaraj Dhakal, Pratap Rai and Sujit Budhathoki scored goals while Milan Rai missed. Bhabindra Malla Thakuri of Marsyangdi, who performed excellent goalkeeping, was declared the 'Man of the Match' and awarded with a prize of Rs 10,000.
Lamjung Marsyangdi will compete with the defending champions APF in the semi-finals. APF defeated Thadarai Samaj 5-4 in a tiebreaker to make it to the last four. The semi-final between Marsyangdi and APF will be held on Saturday at 1 pm, said Tekjung Gurung, president of the organizer Triveni Youth Club.
