APF progresses to Women’s League final with comeback against Army

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 26: The ANFA Women’s League 2024-25 season was about to get a massive surprise on Saturday when the top two teams of the Final Round played in Qualifier 1 at ANFA Complex Ground, Lalitpur.

Armed Police Force (APF) Club would have suffered their first defeat of the season if they did not make a comeback against Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) to win the game and enter the final of the League to lift the trophy for the fourth consecutive season. 

Army led first with Hima Chaudhary giving the lead in the seventh minute. Chaudhary scored after APF goalie Sabitri Kishan failed to punch the ball far during a save.  It was not an easy lead to defend for Army as APF was the team with the best form in the tournament. Furthermore, the undefeated team did not falter after Army took the early lead.

APF kept on pressing from all sides but Army’s defenders and goalie Anjana Rana Magar prevented the equaliser. The defence lasted for 70 minutes, but after that, APF made a comeback to win the game and progress to the final.

A clear from Magar was sent back by Nisha Thokar but the high ball was headed further back by Army’s defender Bimala BK to which Rashmi Kumari Ghising lofted the ball above Sabitri to equalise in the 77th minute.  

And ten minutes later, Ghising, with a one-two with Preeti Rai, scored the second goal and gave APF the most wanted lead. There was a six-minute additional time after the end of 90 minutes but none of the team scored as APF tried preventing Army from equalling the score and taking the game to extra time.

APF’s head coach Jibesh Kumar Pandey was happy with the win and also praised Army’s performance to make the game a competitive one. 

On the other hand, Army’s head coach Krishna Singh Thagunna said that they were positive about coming back to meet APF in the final after defeating Nepal Police Club (NPC) in Qualifier 2 on January 27. NPC entered Qualifier 2 by defeating Bagmati Youth Club by 1-0 in the Eliminator on January 24.

The winner of the faceoff between Army and Police will play for the league title against APF on January 29.