Two hat-tricks propel Church Boys to final of Budha Subba Gold Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 6: Church Boys United (CBU) registered a comfortable win over Royal Thimpu College (RTC) FC, a Bhutanese club, in the first semi-final game of the 25th Budha Subba Gold Cup football tournament in Dharan on Wednesday. 

Samir Tamang and Armand Beadum scored individual hat-tricks while Padam Bhattarai (28') scored one as CBU defeated RTC by 7-0. Samir scored in the 21st, 55th and 85th minutes while Armand completed his hat-trick by finding the back of the net in the 26th, 49th and 52nd minutes.

CBU will now face the winner of the second semi-final game between New Road Team (NRT) and India’s United Karshang FC on February 6. 

Machhindra advance

On the other hand, Machhindra FC eliminated Armed Police Force (APF) Club from the 24th Aaha Rara Pokhara Gold Cup in the second knockout fixture of the tournament on Wednesday. 

Machhindra defeated APF by 2-0 with a goal each by Aditya Shakya and Stephen Kamaha. The goalless game turned into a 2-0 lead for Machhindra in eight minutes with Shakya and Kamaha scoring in the 74th and 82nd minutes respectively. 

Meanwhile, the third fixture of the Aaha Rara Gold Cup is likely to get less enjoyable on Thursday when CBU will face NRT. Both clubs are also the semi-finalists of the Budha Subba Gold Cup; moreover, NRT has a semi-final game in Dharan on Thursday as well. Thus, NRT might field its second team in Pokhara against CBU while focusing on the tournament where they have a higher chance for the trophy as they are in the semi-finals.