Rissho University of Japan defeated Nepal Police Club 1-0 in the quarter-final match of the sixth Manakamana Cable Car Pokhara Cup Football Tournament here at the Pokhara Stadium today.
Yasutaka Suzuki scored the solitary goal of the match for the visitors who are participating in the tournament for the first time while the NPC — who began the mofussil campaign by winning the biggest knock out tournament in Nepal Ice Farwest Khaptad Gold Cup in Dhangadhi — were eliminated from the last eight round.
Suzuki found the back of the nets in the 20th minute when he slotted home from close range following a pass from Natsuki Takeda. The visiting side dominated the departmental side and the NPC were busy in defending in the first half.
Takuto Yoshinho headed wide on a pass from Takuya Hitomi in the 33rd minute, while Daichi Ogawa saw his header saved from the goalline by NPC skipper Bikram Dhimal five minutes later at
a time when goalkeeper Satrudhan Chaudhary was already beaten. Likewise, Chaudhary saved a powerful strike from Rissho skipper Hiroto Hoshikawa in the 42nd minute and Takuya Hitomi wasted another chance moments before the break.
The departmental side put up an improved show in the second half and created a couple of scoring opportunities. Bharat Shah came close to levelling the scores in the 69th minute after Hari Rawat’s initial strike rebounded to play but Rissho goalkeeper Tetta Mitsumori saved his team. Shah was unlucky for the second time in three minutes after his powerful strike was saved by Mitsumori in the 76th minute. Natsuki Takeda of Rissho was named the man of the match.
NPC coach Ananta Thapa described the match as a learning opportunity. “We got to learn a lot from the university team of Japan and we also watched their style of playing modern football,” said the former national team midfielder. “Initially we were confident of winning as the Japanese side was full of young players and the goal in the 20th minute was the turning point of the match,” he added.
Rissho University coach Takesh Tokairin said the players found it hard to play in the pitch. “The pitch was completely different and the players are still feeling tired due to long journey,” he said. “But each member of the team put in hard efforts and we hope to have an improved show in the next match,” said Tokairin.
On Wednesday, Signature Manang Marshyangdi Club will play against Brigade Boys Club in the fourth and final quarter-final match.
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Written by Sandeep
This news first appeared on https://thehimalayantimes.com/sports/rissho-oust-npc-enter-semis/ under the title “Rissho oust NPC, enter semis”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
