Machhindra FC and Church Boys United (CBU) are set to clash in the final of the 7th Bagmati Gold Cup. The highly anticipated match will take place on Monday, February 24, with both teams aiming for the title.
Pathway of Machhindra FC
Machhindra secured their spot in the final with a commanding 3-1 victory over Three Star Club in the semi-final. Shishir Lekhi equalized in the 42nd minute after Three Star initially took the lead. In the second half, Samirraj Thokar put Machhindra ahead in the 51st minute, and Stephen sealed the win with a goal in the 88th minute. Captain Devendra Tamang was named Man of the Match for his excellent performance.
Pathway of Church Boys United
Church Boys United defeated APF FC 3-2 in a thrilling semi-final encounter. APF took an early lead and maintained their advantage until the 72nd minute. However, Armand Beadoum equalized for CBU, sparking a remarkable comeback. Just minutes later, he scored again in the 76th minute to put CBU ahead. Sumit Shrestha added another in the 85th minute to extend the lead. APF managed to pull one back with a late goal, but it wasn’t enough. Armand was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance.
Exciting Final Ahead
Both teams are expected to field stronger squads for the final. Machhindra may bring in key players like Sanish Shrestha, captain Bishal Shrestha, and foreign player Kareem. Meanwhile, Church Boys could strengthen their squad with national team players such as captain Ananta Tamang, Arik Bista, and Rohan Karki.
This final is set to be a thrilling rematch, as Church Boys recently defeated Machhindra in the 11th Falgunanda Gold Cup final to win the title. Adding to the excitement, both teams were eliminated from the Bhadrapur Gold Cup after being defeated by Jhapa XI FC.
Prize and Recognition
The winner of the Bagmati Gold Cup, organized by the Bagmati Rural Municipality Sports Development Committee in Jhurjhure, Makawanpur, will receive Rs 1 million, while the runner-up will get Rs 500,000. Football fans are eagerly awaiting the showdown to see which team will claim the championship.
