GOVERNOR’S GOLD CUP UPDATE USFC outplays Kanchenjunga FC to make it into pre-quarters

GANGTOK, 10 Nov: Bhaichung’s United Sikkim Football Club [USFC] outplayed Kanchenjunga FC of Siliguri in the last match of the first round in the ongoing All India Governor’s Gold Cup Football Tournament 2013 here at Paljor Stadium today. The final scorecard of 04-02 in favour of USFC belies the keenness with which the match was contested till the final whistle. With the win, USFC is now through to the pre-quarterfinal round of the tournament.
Both teams played an attacking game from the starting whistle itself and the Siliguri team drew first blood when Rigden Lama scored in the 31st minute. In the dying seconds of the first half, however, Ong Tshering Lepcha scored the equalizer for USFC and the first half ended with the teams level at 1-1.
Both teams returned energized in the second half and played their hearts out.
In the 60th minute, Sanju Pradhan took USFC ahead to 2-1, only for Revon Sundas to score the equalizer for Kanchenjunga FC in the 78th minute. The see-saw battle continued.
With both teams trying to take the lead, the referee offered a penalty to USFC for a foul on its striker in the KFC D-box area in the 78th minute. This was successfully turned into a 3-2 lead for USFC by Bijendra Rai. In the injury time, Bijendra completed his brace and sealed a 4-2 victory of USFC.
Earlier, on Saturday, Nepal National Youth XI defeated Eastern Railways by a solitary goal in the third match of the tournament. The only goal of the match was scored by Kiran Sunar in the 37th minute.
On Monday, the first pre-quarter final match will be played between Tata Football Academy and NISA, Manipur at 2 PM.