Black Bulls Football Club from Uzbekistan, playing in Nepal for the first time, has reached the final of the 24th Aaha-Rara Pokhara Gold Cup by defeating five-time champion Three Star Club. In the match held at Pokhara Stadium on Thursday, Black Bulls secured their final clash against Nepal Police Club with a commanding 4-0 victory over Three Star.
For Black Bulls, Kuvonchbek Olimov, Savkatjon Sattorov, Asilbek Orifjonov, and Saidjamol Davlatjonov each scored one goal. From the beginning of the match, the Uzbek team kept Three Star under pressure. Olimov opened the scoring in the 24th minute, giving his team the lead. In the 58th minute, Asilbek scored after receiving a cross from Islombek, skillfully beating two Three Star defenders.
In the 63rd minute, Sattorov extended the lead further by dribbling past three Three Star players and netting a stunning goal from inside the penalty box, leaving Three Star’s goalkeeper, Abhishek Baral, helpless. The final blow came in the 87th minute when Saidjamol added another goal, sealing Three Star’s fate. Asilbek Orifjonov was named the Player of the Match.
Earlier, Black Bulls had secured a semifinal spot by defeating India’s Thunderbolt North United 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Three Star, the previous edition’s runner-up, had reached the semifinals by defeating Machhindra FC. The final match between Black Bulls and Nepal Police Club will take place on Saturday.
