Hosts Bhadrapur Blazers have started the second edition of the Bhadrapur Jhapa Gold Cup with a winning start thanks to a goal from a substitute player.
The hosts defeated visiting team Darjeeling Police India 4-3 in the opening match of the Gold Cup, which began today at the Mechi Stadium, to enter the quarterfinals.
The hosts registered a victory thanks to a goal from substitute player Pratap Rai in the second half. Darjeeling came back into the game in a dramatic manner against the hosts, who had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half.
In the third minute of the very exciting match, a shot from 18 yards by foreign player Carlos from Bhadrapur was converted into a goal. In the 39th minute of the match, a shot by Bhadrapur striker Milan Rai was rebounded by Darjeeling goalkeeper Nigam Singh. The ball was scored by Bhadrapur captain Ashish Chapagain, making the match 2-0.
Similarly, in the 42nd minute of the game, Bhadrapur's Satyam Sharma managed to score a goal by playing a single from the middle of the field. He scored the goal in a one-on-one situation with Darjeeling goalkeeper Singh.
In the 72nd minute of the game, Pratap Rai scored a goal on a cross pass from Vishal Darji, ensuring the victory for Bhadrapur. Darjeeling, who had a poor performance in the first half, put pressure on the hosts Bhadrapur in the second half. In the 50th minute of the game, Prashant Rai converted a pass received in the penalty area into a goal.
In the 55th minute of the game, Nayan Pradhan added another goal. Pradhan, who was unmarked in the penalty area, scored a beautiful goal on a cross pass from Ashish Dewan. In the 70th minute of the game, Darjeeling's Ruud Gullit scored a goal to tie the game 3-3.
The player of the match was Ashish Chapagain of the winning team. He received a trophy along with a cash prize of Rs. 21,000. He was presented with the award by the family of the host Chandiraj Parajuli.
Speaking at the post-match conference after the match, Bhadrapur coach Sachindra Dhimal said that the team had to face pressure in the second half after the result was in their favor in the first half. He said that the substitute players managed to turn the result in their favor at the last minute.
Darjeeling coach Shiva Tamang said that the team faced pressure after conceding a goal in the beginning. He said that the team had to hand over the result to the opposing team after conceding a goal without a set.
The organizer's secretary Tirtha Dhakal informed that Thursday's match will be between Jhapa 11 FC and Machhindra Football Club.
The winner of the Gold Cup will receive a cash prize of 1.3 million, an attractive trophy and the runner-up will receive 700,000 rupees.
It is estimated that the cost of completing the Gold Cup will be 17.8 million rupees. The best player of the entire tournament, the Player of the Tournament, will receive 105,000 rupees in cash. Similarly, the best goalkeeper, top scorer, emerging player and coach will receive a cash prize of Rs 25,000.
The player of the match of each match will be given a cash prize of Rs 21,000. There are also arrangements for attractive prizes for lucky spectators who buy tickets every day.
