MMC Survives on Samit’s Error – APF knocked out

Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marsyangdi proceeds to the semis as Anil Gurung utilizes APF goalkeeper Samit Chandra Rajbhandari’s error to score lone goal of the match in second half of the extra time.

Anil Gurung Striked victory for Manang Marsyangdi in 109th minute of the goal as Samit RajBhandari made match loosing mistake in the second half of the extra time which ruled APF out of the tournament on a deserving game.

APF managed to build pressure to their opposition after they managed to keep the ball in their opposition’s box but they failed to score as they got busted in offside trap Manange defenders created very often in the match. Both the teams were unable to create some special moves which could have given them breakthrough. APF although started to attack from early time of the first half, it was Lawati who started the long range attack on 37′ which the MMC keeper Dare saved to provide APF corner which was the only appreciable attack in the first half.

Second half started and both team kept it tight to score. Manang got a corner in 58′ of the game which Jambo striked well enough but it got deflected through a defense in a goal line. Within no time, APF created a counter attack move and Lawati got a one on one chance which he failed to convert after the ball kissed the crossbar. APF did not stop their attack and could have given a goal which the linesman denied after Dare made save in the line. Linesman ruled out the goal despite of many appeal from the APF players.

The game was directed to extra time when APF’s fortune denied them goal in the regular time. Manang started the extra time dominating the midfields but what they missed was clinical finishing. The first half of the extra time remained goalless after Anil Gurung missed a chance in the 100′ of the game and Lawati’s ball was saved by Dare two minutes later.

The second half of the extra time remained tragic for APF as they conceeded a silly goal which they should not have conceded even in hundreds of similar attack. Anil Gurung’s chase turned helpful when APF goalkeeper Samit made a silly mistake when he went into pressure. He tried to flip the ball through his legs which he should have collected with his gloves but he failed to make proper move allowing Anil gurung to score the lone goal of the match sending them through to the semis.