Kathmandu, April 22:Ranipokhari Corner Team (RCT) had a cakewalk over the much hyped Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) to win the First Pasang Lhamu Football Tournament title.
RCT won today’s final 2-0 after dominating both of the proceedings to claim Rs. 50,000 as prize money and winners trophy while MMC received 25000 rupees in cash prize along with runners up trophy.
RCT, after claiming the title, had two other prizes to cheer about for its individual players. Striker Nirajan Rayamajhi won a golden chain worth 10,000 rupees for emerging the top scorer of the tournament while defender Narayan Manandhar was adjudged the best player of the tournament.
RCT launched their title campaign with solid start with the much needed lead coming to them in the 6th minute of the match. RCT midfielders led by captain Bal Gopal Maharjan marshalled an effective move inside the MMC’s penalty area. Aita Tamang fed a cross to striker Raj Kumar Shrestha who after seeing the MMC keeper Upendra stranded slammed home.
MMC that started in the tournament as favourites with seven Nepalese international players, performed poorly in today’s match. Their star players Basant Thapa, Milan Shrestha and Rajan Rayamajhi and Kumar Thapa could not rise to the expectation. While their pacey midfielders Rajesh Shahi and Raj Kumar Tandukar were kept in check mainly by indefatigable defender Narayan , Samir Nemkul, Madhu Karki and Binod Shahi.
While MMC players struggled hard to find their form, RCT boys looked in good nick as performing a cohesive football in all departments. Captain Maharjan, acting as playmaker, Ramesh Gayawali and Aita Tamang combined well to feed the ball to forwards to maintain pressure for the rivals. However, RCT missed many clear chances. Nirajan squandered an easy chance from the close range in the 20th minute of first half. MMC’s Kumar Tandukar also lost a chance in the 22nd minute after his header was well saved by RCT keeper Ramesh Lama with diving full to his left.
After the lemon break, RCT looked more threatening. NIrajan came very close to hit home but his close range header just went outside the post in the 21st minute. Aita Tamang hit wide a close range shot in the 26th minute. However, Nirajan Rayamajhi, who had two goals to his credit, did not missed a chance that came in the 35th minute. A Milan Shrestha cross from right was headed by Aita but the ball rebounded off from the horizontal post which in turn gave Nirajan an easy chance to make a soft tap inside the net giving no chance to keeper Upendra.
Shell-shocked, MMC tried hard to lower the margin in the second half injury time when Rajan and Basant Thapa were unlucky enough to hit the ball into the post despite having a close range shots. Shree Ram Ranjitkar was the referee for today’s final.