7th Aaha Gold Cup:: Sahara shatters BN’s hope

POKHARA, Feb 3 - Foul play cost the BN Sporting Club (BN) as Sahara AFC trounced the Bangladeshi team on Tuesday's match of Aaha Gold Cup tournament played here.

Ten men BN lost 2-1 as the referee sent Arif off the field showing red card. Defender Arif was shown the red card in the 88th minute and the already week BN. Sahara AFC scored the decider in the injury time. Gopal Thapa converted the high free kick from Krishna Kuwar into the goal in the 92nd minute. Tutu gave BN the lead in the 49th minute. Simon Williams, utlising BN's defense laps, scored the equaliser in the 87th minute.

Both the teams lost a dozen of opportunities to convert into goal. Kunchan Gurung's goal attempt from penalty area hit second bar in the 4th minute. "The absence of our best players resulted in the loss," said BN's manager Munna, "Repetition of red card again hindered our already weak team."

In an exuberant note, Sahara AFC's manager Navin Gurung said, "We improved our game in the second half. Sahara AFC, which has already participated thrice in this tournament, will take on Army to enter the final.