Jhapa XI rout Sankata 4-0 to win ANFA Cup 2071

Jhapa XI won the ANFA Cup 2071 title after a 4-0 win against Sankata at Dasarath Stadium today.

Jhapa XI rout Sankata 4-0 to win ANFA Cup 2071

Jhapa XI beat Sankata to lift the title of ANFA Cup 2071 after a 4-0 win at Dasarath Stadium today. Karna Limbu, Dilan Loktan, Bikash Rai and Buddha Chemjong scored for the winning team. Suraj Thing was sent off for Sankata as he got his  second booking within an hour of the match.

Sankata started the better of two teams as they had two of their attack halted by woodwork. Uttam Gurung’s 25 yard shot hit the crossbar while Suman Lama’s chipped shot off Uttam’s cross hit the first post. Jhapa then hit the post after Karna Limbu’s free kick was parried away by Raju.

Jhapa got into the lead after Nagendra Limbu’s 30 yard effort deflected off Suraj Thing’s head which beat the goalkeeper and the ball went into the goal. Suraj’s day went from bad to worse when he saw second yellow for a pull on Bishal Rai when Jhapa were on a counter attack. Despite falling to ten men, Sankata kept on pressurizing Jhapa defense but could not make any use of it.

Sankata made some attacking changes to level the score but Jhapa doubled their lead instead. Badal brought down Yogesh Gurung inside the box and referee pointed for a penalty which was converted by Karna Limbu in 75th minute. Jhapa then made couple of substitutes and both of them scored in space of two minutes. Bikash Rai put Jhapa three goals up with a brillaint run and finish in 85th minute while Buddha Chemjong’s shot from near the edge of the box went into the low-corner of goal beating Raju Yogi just two minutes later.

Coach of CMG Sankata Bijaya Maharjan said that his team were unlucky that the team could not win the match. ‘We hit the woodwork twice when the score was still unchanged and the boys felt a bit low after that. The referee’s decision demoralized our lads and we could not keep up with the performace thereafter’, said Maharjan.

Winning Coach Bhagirath Ale was happy with the performance and said this is a positive for Nepalese Football. ‘Our win in such big tournament shows that there is possibility of development of football outside valley as well. Our team had confidence to win and we did without any hiccups even though we were given hard time at the start’, ended Ale.