Tribhuvan Army Club has secured a spot in the semifinals of the 9th Birat Gold Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rijalco Morang FA. The match, played at Shahid Stadium in Biratnagar on Wednesday, saw Army edge past the hosts in a competitive encounter.
Niraj Chaudhary Seals the Win
The decisive goal came in the 37th minute of the first half, courtesy of Niraj Chaudhary. Phatteman Ghale delivered a perfect cross from midfield, which bypassed Morang’s defenders. Niraj found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, smoothly dribbled past him, and slotted the ball into the net to secure the victory for Army.
Struggles and a Bizarre Ending
Morang FA was already at a disadvantage as they missed their captain, Ashok Khawas, who was unavailable due to national team training in Kathmandu.
The match took an unexpected and amusing turn in the final minutes when Morang FA earned a free kick near the box. Dorje Tamang delivered a beautiful ball into the area, but instead of heading it, Morang’s Daniel used his hand to direct the ball into the net. The referee immediately disallowed the goal and showed Daniel a second yellow card, resulting in his sending off.
Player of the Match
Army’s goalkeeper, Bikesh Kuthu, was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance and received a cash prize of NPR 11,000.
The second quarterfinal match of the tournament will take place on Thursday, featuring a clash between Armed Police Force (APF) and Nepal Police Club.
