Jhapa FC, a team preparing for the Nepal Super League (NSL), suffered a defeat against defending A-Division League champions Church Boys United in the ongoing Mechinagar Gold Cup. The match, held on Sunday in Kakarvitta, ended with Church Boys securing a spot in the semifinals.
Match Summary
The game ended in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, leading to a penalty shootout. Even after the first round of penalties, both teams were tied at 4-4, forcing the match into sudden death.
Church Boys’ goalkeeper Tikendra Thapa scored in sudden death, while Jhapa’s Dhiraj Bista’s shot was saved by Thapa, securing the win for Church Boys.
Goals in Regular Time
- 69th Minute: Church Boys’ foreign player Richard Wilson scored after receiving a high pass from Abayomi Fakunle inside the box. Jhapa FC’s defenders attempted to clear the ball but failed, allowing Richard to execute a brilliant one-touch finish.
- 90th Minute: A Jhapa FC player took a powerful shot from outside the box, which was saved and deflected by a Church Boys defender. The ball then fell to captain Shyam Murmu, who scored with a precise one-touch finish to equalize.
Penalty Shootout Details
In the penalty shootout, Church Boys’ Suraj Jyu Thakuri, Rajesh Pariyar, Jaya Gurung, Ekaraj Budhathoki, and Richard Wilson scored, while Jhapa’s goalkeeper Krishal Moktan saved one attempt.
Jhapa’s Roshan Pahari, Prabin Basnet, Baffour, and Gaurav Dhimal converted their shots, but Abinash Syangtan missed.
Man of the Match
Church Boys’ goalkeeper Tikendra Thapa was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance and received a cash prize of NPR 11,000.
Upcoming Matches
On Monday, Dharan FC will face Uzbekistan’s Black Bulls FC.
Coaches’ Reactions
Church Boys’ head coach Suman Shrestha admitted that his team did not perform as expected due to a tight match schedule, which led to fatigue among the players.
Jhapa FC’s coach Pravesh Katuwal stated that only a few key players were fielded as part of their NSL preparation. He believed the result would have been different if they had played with their full squad.
Tournament Prize & Participants
- Winner’s Prize: NPR 1 million and a trophy.
- Runner-up Prize: NPR 500,000 and a trophy.
- Participating Teams: Six teams from Nepal, along with teams from India and Uzbekistan.
Church Boys United now advance to the semifinals as they continue their quest for the title.
