Sahalesh Youth Club Stuns Bhojpur to Reach the Final of the 8th Belbari International Running Gold Cup

Morang. Sahalesh Youth Club of Siraha has entered the final of the 8th Belbari Arju Rice Major Late N.B. Rungmahang International Invitational Running Gold Cup.

In the second semi-final match of the Gold Cup held on Friday at Laxmimarg, Belbari-11, Morang, Sahalesh Youth Club, Siraha, stunned Bhojpur Football Association, Bhojpur, with a 1-0 goal difference.

In the last minute of the game, Sahalesh's Jersey No. 11, Sujan Dangol, scored the decisive goal, securing victory for the team.

With this win, Sahalesh will compete for the title in the final against B Division League winner Planning Boys United, Kathmandu.

In the first half of the match, Sahalesh's Jersey No. 10, Milan Rai's free kick near the D-box in the 25th minute, was weak. On the other hand, Bhojpur's Jersey No. 9, Shyam Murmu, made a good move but failed to score. A powerful shot by Sahalesh's Jersey No. 7, Samir Tamang, in the 38th minute also could not be converted into a goal. Twelve minutes after the break, Bhojpur's Jersey No. 18, Yogen Karki, was sent off the field with a double yellow card.

Both teams were aggressive in the second half.

Bhojpur's team captain, Jersey No. 6, Bibek Rai, was declared the Man of the Match. He received a cash prize of 7,000 rupees.

The Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City, Nagesh Koirala, was the chief guest at the match.

The winning team of this tournament, with Belbari Municipality as the main supporter and Arju Rice Mill as the main sponsor, will receive a cash prize of eight hundred thousand rupees, and the runner-up team will receive four hundred thousand rupees, informed the club president, Bikram Rai.

To win the trophy worth 800,000 rupees, studded with 3 kg of silver and one and a half tolas of gold, a football club must win the tournament's title for three consecutive years.

Popiraj Rai and Jyotiraj Rai, residents of Laxmimarg, sponsored the Running Gold Cup in memory of their late father, Major N.B. Rai.