Football

Armed Police Force (APF) defeated Tribhuvan Army Club 6-5 on penalties to win the men’s football gold at the ninth National Games.

In a tense final held at the Pokhara Stadium on Thursday, each side had a player sent off in the 79th minute after APF’s Pradip Lama and TAC’s Padam Tamang clashed with each other.

Sudil Rai of TAC squandered a golden chance in the 85th minute, missing a one-on-one against APF ’keeper Raj Nagarkoti.

The match entered the extra time after neither side could break the deadlock.  In the 117th minute, Nagarkoti made a fantastic save to deny TAC’s Navayug Shrestha to take the match into penalties.

Shrestha of TAC and Nabin Lama of APF converted the first penalties for their respective teams. After Sashihang Angdembe, who took TAC’s second shot, was denied by Nagarkoti, Awas Lamichhane put APF a 2-1 lead.

George Prince Karki then equalised for TAC as Sanish Shrestha fired his shot over the bar. Simanta Thapa and Sudip Shikhrakar both scored, taking leave the scores level at 3-3.

Bibek Basnet of TAC and Raju Nagarkoti of APF both coverted their shots to take the match into a sudden death.

Bikash Khawas and Dipesh Dhimal both put away their shots make it 5-5.

Then Nagarkoti correctly anticipated Suma Aryal’s shot to deny TAC, and APF’s Bishwas Udas made no mistake for a 6-5 win and start wild celebrations in the APF camp.

Gandaki Province take Bronze

Earlier, Gandaki Province took the silver medal after a 1-0 victory over Sudurpaschim Pradesh in a play-off on Wednesday.