NDSU Bagmati has secured a place in the final of the Sabhapati Cup after defeating New Road Team (NRT) in a dramatic penalty shootout. Goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu emerged as the hero, helping his team win 4-2 in the tiebreaker at Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday.
The match was full of excitement, ending in a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes. NDSU Bagmati had taken an early lead with two goals in the first half, but NRT made a strong comeback in the second half to equalize the match. With no extra time played, the game was decided through penalties.
During the penalty shootout, NDSU Bagmati’s goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu made a crucial save against NRT’s Saroj Tamang, while Sumit Shrestha missed his shot. On the other side, NDSU Bagmati’s Nabin Lama, Fode Fofana, Rajat Tiwari, and Kuldip Karki successfully converted their penalties. For NRT, only Abhishek Limbu and Jaya Gurung managed to score.
In regular time, NDSU Bagmati took the lead with goals from Sandeep Karki in the 11th minute and Senegalese player Alex in the 14th minute. However, NRT fought back in the second half with Kritish Ratna Chhunju scoring twice in the 46th and 69th minutes to level the game.
With this victory, NDSU Bagmati will now face Sankata FC in the final, which is scheduled for Thursday. Football fans can expect another thrilling match as both teams compete for the championship title. The winner will receive 26 lakh Nepali rupees, while the runner-up will receive 13 lakh Nepali rupees.