Kathmandu, May 14 - Nepal Police Club suffered a 3-2 loss to Taiwan Power Company (TPC) of Chinese Taipei on Wednesday in the group ´A´ qualifiers of the AFC President´s Cup held at Dasharath Stadium.
The performance of the defense and the goalkeeper remained pathetic. Though the Police took early lead with Bhola Silwal´s goal at the 21st minute, they failed to maintain the pace as TPC replied with an equalizer within a minute. Bhola scored in a pass set by Chetan Ghimire inside the D-box. But one minute later, the Most Valuable Player of the Match P-F Feng scored the equalizer taking advantage of the weak defense of the Police. Police goalie Ritesh Thapa, too, failed to save the ball as the ball rolled through his arm while diving.
Likewise, Police conceded the second goal in the first minute of the second half taking advantage of inattentive Police line-up. P-Y Lin scored through a powerful shot dribbling past defender Deepak Poudel inside the D-box utilizing a pass given from the center line. Likewise, Police conceded the third in the 57th minute through a penalty M-C Lee after defender Rakesh Shrestha brought down M-C He inside the D-box. Police made an attempt to comeback in the match and scored second goal in the 86th minute through Chetan Ghimire. Ghimire scored the goal in his solo effort beating custodian W-C Pan inside the D-box and slotting the ball in the presence of three opponent defenders.
Earlier, in the 7th minute Jumanu´s volley off Robin Shrestha went slightly above the bar. Similarly, Bhola Silwal´s powerful shot in the 29th minute went wide from the post. Likewise, TPC custodian made a spectacular dive to save a sitter after beating two defenders inside the D-box. In the 73rd minute, too, Police were unlucky as Chetan Ghimire´s header rebounded by hitting the pole in the corner pass of Yogesh Shrestha.
“We lost the match due to our own mistakes and we lacked understanding in defensive area” Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said after the match. “The opponents had a good level of fitness,” he added.
Satisfied with the team´s performance TPC coach Chen Kuei Jen said it was a "difficult challenge for us but we won the match. Police also displayed a good footballing.”
Earlier in the first match of the day, Tazak league winners Regar Tadaz were held to a goalless draw by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), Pakistan. With the draw, both teams shared a point each in the tournament. The aerially superior Tadaz dominated WAPDA in the first half of the game. Tadaz lost as many as four chances for goal. WAPDA custodian Abdul Aziz denied a powerful freekick in the 10th minute off Rabimov Ibragim. Aziz, who was awarded best goalie in the Pakistani League, stopped a treacherous strike from Eminov Sardorbek in the 30th minute.
In the second half, WAPDA came up with a better performance. WAPDA missed a sitter in the 60th minute when Sayed Raza´s attempt from outside the D-box was blocked by Tazak goalie Dodov Alisher. Similarly, WAPDA missed a stunner in the 67th minute when Imran Niazi´s attempt from inside the D-box was cleared by a solo defender.
Tazak´s Makhmudov Khurshed was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the Match by the match referee.
WAPDA coach Khalid Butt said he was satisfied with the draw. “We haven´t lost. That is success for us.” While Tazak coach Khabibulloev Makhmadjon said that the opponent team had played a defensive game. “Their goalkeeper was excellent”, he added.
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