Church Boys United (CBU) secured their place in the semifinals of the 24th Aaha Rara Pokhara Gold Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over defending champions Tribhuvan Army Football Club in the third quarterfinal match on Monday at Pokhara Stadium.
The match remained intense until the 89th minute when Raj Bhusal scored the decisive goal with a well-placed header off a corner kick from Nabin Lama. Army’s Aviskar Khadka was in position but couldn’t prevent the ball from crossing the line. Forward Milan Rai played a key role in CBU’s attack, delivering an impressive performance that earned him the Man of the Match award.
With this win, CBU avenged last season’s semifinal defeat against Army and kept their title hopes alive. They will now face Nepal Police Club (NPC) in the first semifinal on February 12. NPC secured their spot in the last four after defeating host Sahara Club and Brigade Boys Club UK in their previous matches.
On the other side of the tournament bracket, Three Star Club has already confirmed their place in the semifinals. They await the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Black Bulls FC (Uzbekistan) and Thunderbolt North United (India).
CBU has shown strong form in the tournament, with Nabin Lama making a major impact—scoring in the first match against NRT and providing an assist in the quarterfinals. Additionally, Rohan Karki and Samir Tamang returned to the starting XI after missing the first match, adding depth to the squad.
The grand finale of the tournament is set for February 15. As the competition heats up, CBU will look to continue their strong run against NPC, while Three Star awaits their opponent in the battle for the prestigious title.