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Lalitpur City FC Edge Dhangadhi in 10-Man Thriller, Storm into NSL Final Again

Lalitpur City FC showed championship grit and flair under pressure as they booked their spot in the Nepal Super League (NSL) final for the second consecutive season with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Dhangadhi FC at the Dasharath Stadium on Saturday. Despite being reduced to 10 men as early as the 16th minute, Lalitpur displayed defensive resilience and clinical finishing to outlast a determined Dhangadhi side in the high-stakes first qualifier. The early sending off of Mani Kumar Lama — after a collision with Dhangadhi's Mohammad Aljooni and a consultation between referee Umesh Bidari and assistant Kisankanhaiya Yadav — put Lalitpur on the back foot. But the defending champions refused to fold. Frenchman Kervens Belfort lit up Tripureshwor with a sensational free-kick in the 57th minute, giving Lalitpur a shock lead despite the numerical disadvantage. However, the joy was short-lived, as Dhangadhi responded swiftly.![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/8Alv0naNfVnNHI9KcAjWHikSqweciMbsiYF9SD8o.jpg) Substitute George Prince Karki immediately scored just a minute after coming on in the 60th minute. He pounced on a poorly cleared corner from Sergio Barbajo and slotted home to level the score at 1-1. But Lalitpur wasn't done. In the 79th minute, it was Papa Ibo Kebe's turn to dazzle. The Ivorian forward danced past four defenders and unleashed a thunderous strike from outside the area to again put Lalitpur ahead — a goal worthy of winning any knockout clash. Tensions flared in the dying minutes. Dhangadhi defender Juan Caicedo was shown a second yellow for a reckless challenge, while Lalitpur's Pepe Diakate also received a straight red following a heated exchange. Both sides ended the match with ten men. With the win, Lalitpur is now one match away from defending its NSL title. Dhangadhi, meanwhile, will have another shot at reaching the final—they'll face the winner of the eliminator between FC Chitwan and Pokhara Thunders in the second qualifier.

Football

Police Club Dominate Siliguri FC to Book Lumbini Cup Semi-Final Berth

Nepalgunj: Nepal Police Club cruised into the semi-finals of the inaugural International Invitational Lumbini Cup Women's Football Tournament with a commanding 4-0 victory over Indian side Siliguri FC on Saturday at the Nepalgunj Stadium. The departmental giants' first-half blitz sealed their place in the final four, thanks to a brace from forward Nirmala Upadhyay and goals from Mina Deuba and captain Niru Thapa. Police, led by head coach Suman Subedi, showed no mercy in the opening 45 minutes, netting all four goals before halftime. The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Deuba broke free and calmly slotted home to put the Police ahead. Just five minutes later, Upadhyay doubled the lead, and the visitors were visibly rattled. The third goal came in the 22nd minute, with Thapa adding her name to the scoresheet from the penalty spot. On the 30th, Upadhyay made no mistake, registering her second goal and sealing the result before the half-hour mark. Despite a more composed second-half performance from the Indian outfit, the damage had already been done. Neither side could find the net after the break, with the Police opting to manage the game and protect their clean sheet. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/22oa08BSj0ANDn62SRmqbzFfqRnEocrY61B5wZjH.jpg) Police's lineup featured several seasoned national players, including goalkeeper Usha Nath and defenders Samiksha Ghimire, Amrita Jaishi, and Sushma Tamang, further underlining the club's depth and quality. With the win, Police will now face off against another heavyweight, Tribhuvan Army Club, on Baisakh 9 for a place in the final. Army had earlier dispatched Sudurpaschim Province Football Association with an identical 4-0 scoreline in the tournament opener. Eight teams compete in the tournament, jointly organized by Antaral and the Banke District Football Association. The winner will receive a cash prize of Rs 505,555, while the runner-up will collect Rs 250,000, along with trophies and medals. Individual accolades, including 'Player of the Match' and 'Player of the Tournament,' will also be awarded. Upadhyay, whose clinical performance led the Police attack, was deservingly named Player of the Match. Sunday's fixture will feature hosts Banke Football Association taking on Rautahat District Football Association.

Football

Army Kicks Off Lumbini Cup With Dominant Win Over Sudurpaschim

Tribhuvan Army Club stormed into the semifinals of the inaugural International Invitational Lumbini Cup Women's Football Tournament with a commanding 4-0 victory over Sudurpaschim Province Football Association at the Banke Nepalgunj Stadium on Friday. Anita Lamjel was the standout performer of the day, bagging a brace and walking away with the *Player of the Match* honours, while Hema Chaudhary and substitute Tulasa Bohara added one goal apiece in a clinical display by the Army. Despite missing three of their key players – Deepa Shahi, Amisha Karki, and Bimala Chaudhary – Chakra Tamang's side barely missed a beat. Anita opened the scoring as early as the 4th minute, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error from Sudurpaschim's Sunaina Chaudhary, who failed to deal with Bimala Bk's teasing free kick. ![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/8Iw0TsZtNsbFlAh1z23jd2vcUOsJoI8XGcM2dE1C.jpg) Army doubled their lead early in the second half, as Anita struck again – this time curling a superb free-kick into the net in the 51st minute after Purnima Tadi was penalized for a handball near the edge of the box. Just four minutes later, Hema Chaudhary made it 3-0 with a composed finish inside the penalty area following a well-placed assist from Sharmila Thapa. Then, in the 77th, Tulasa Bohara, coming off the bench, sealed the deal with a thunderous strike from outside the area, leaving Sudurpaschim's defence rooted. The win sets up a semifinal clash on Baisakh 9 for the Army, who will face either fellow departmental rivals Nepal Police Club or India's Siliguri Football Association. Those two sides are set to meet on Saturday. The Army is no stranger to deep tournament runs, having finished runners-up in the Women's Gold Cup in Ilam (Falgun) and another tournament in Chitwan (Chaitra). But this time, they're gunning for gold. Eight teams are hunting for the Lumbini Cup title, including hosts Banke-11, APF, Nepal Police, Army, Karnali Province, Sudurpaschim, Rautahat, and Siliguri FC from India. The champions will take home a prize of Rs 505,555, while the runners-up will earn Rs 250,000, trophies, and medals. The tournament, organized by Antaral in coordination with the Banke District Football Association, also features individual accolades, including *Player of the Match* and category-wise awards.

Cricket

Football

Nepal Edge UAE via DLS to Open ICC U-19 World Cup Asia Qualifiers with Victory

Nepal kicked off their ICC U-19 World Cup Asia Qualifiers campaign on a winning note, defeating the United Arab Emirates by five runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-affected thriller at the Mulpani Cricket Ground on Sunday. Chasing a target of 201 in a match reduced to 40 overs per side due to a wet outfield, UAE was well-positioned at 171 for 7 in 36 overs when fading light and rain forced an abrupt halt to proceedings. With no further play possible, Nepal were declared winners under the DLS method, securing two crucial points to begin their qualifying run. Despite the loss, UAE's Yayin Kiran Rai delivered a standout performance, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 104 off 96 balls — his knock featuring eight boundaries and five sixes. However, his valiant effort lacked adequate support from the rest of the batting lineup, with Mohammad Ryan Khan contributing 35 and Karan Dhiman adding 15 as the only other batters to reach double figures. Nepal's bowling attack kept the pressure on throughout the innings. Ashok Dhami and Santosh Kumar Yadav led the way with two wickets each, while Abhishek Tiwari and captain Naren Bhatta chipped in with one apiece.![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/SyzS9mvXqhuk04Of6s1kPjC5WPWDeHiNE6lbxytw.jpg) After being put into bat, Nepal posted a competitive 200 for 9 from their allotted 40 overs. Skipper Naren Bhatta played a captain's knock, scoring a composed 67 off 75 deliveries laced with seven fours. Dilsad Ali (34), Shahil Patel (32), and Neeraj Kumar Yadav (18) provided valuable contributions in the middle, while Santosh Yadav (11) and Ashok Dhami (10*) helped push the total beyond the 200-mark. UAE's bowling unit put in a disciplined shift, with Yudish Suri claiming three wickets. Yug Sharma and Shalom D'Souza picked up two apiece, while Ali Asgar Shams and Karan Dhiman took one each. With the win, Nepal have taken an early step toward qualification, showing composure in a high-pressure opening clash. They'll look to carry this momentum into their next fixture as the race to secure a spot in the 2024 ICC U-19 World Cup intensifies.

Football

Nepal Clinch Second Straight Win in T20I Series with Commanding Chase Over Kuwait

Kathmandu — Nepal continued their momentum in the ongoing four-nation Twenty20 International series, registering a convincing six-wicket victory over Kuwait on Thursday at the Mission Road Ground in Hong Kong. Chasing a competitive target of 186, Nepal made light work of the total, reaching 187 for 4 in 18.5 overs to notch their second win in as many matches as possible. The result puts Nepal atop the points table with four points from two games following their opening victory over Qatar. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh laid the foundation for the successful chase with a commanding 127-run stand. Bhurtel led the charge with a fluent 80 off 50 deliveries, hammering six fours and a six, while Sheikh anchored the innings with a composed 53 from 38 balls, featuring four sixes and two boundaries. Dipendra Singh Airee provided the finishing touches with a quick 31.![](https://bootballer.com/storage/media/posts/yGyokYxqqh0OsqVWZbEuFqd2x1A7iE7rPUBLPvhw.jpg) Kuwait's bowlers struggled to contain the Nepali top order. Yasin Patel claimed two wickets, while Mohammad Shafiq and skipper Mohammad Aslam each picked up one. Earlier, Kuwait posted a competitive 185 for 7 after being sent into bat. Clint Anto top-scored with a brisk 41, followed by handy contributions from Meet Bhavsar (35), Bilal Tahir (32), and Ravija Sandaruwan (26). Anto and Bhavsar added 54 runs for the second wicket to steady the innings after an early loss. Nepal's bowlers made a collective effort, led by veteran pacer Sompal Kami, who claimed 3 for 34. Youngster Nandan Yadav impressed with 2 wickets, while Lalit Rajbanshi and Bhurtel chipped in with a wicket each. Nepal will look to maintain its unbeaten run when it faces hosts Hong Kong in its next group match. A place in the final is well within reach.

Football

CAN Announces 28-Member Squad for Closed Training

KATHMANDU—The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has shortlisted 28 players for closed training in preparation for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers, which will take place in Thailand this May. As per CAN's announcement, the closed training camp will commence on Tuesday, with national team captain Indu Barma leading the squad. The selection features experience, young talent, and several emerging prospects, including seasoned campaigners Rubina Chhetri, Sita Rana Magar, Bindu Rawal, and Kabita Kunwar. **Players Called for Closed Training:** Indu Barma (Captain), Rubina Chhetri, Bindu Rawal, Sita Rana Magar, Samjhana Khadka, Alisha Kumari Yadav, Sana Prabin, Rajmati Airee, Roma Thapa, Kabita Kunwar, Ishwori Bista, Pooja Mahato, Kajal Shrestha, Kabita Joshi, Manisha Upadhyay, Sabnam Rai, Seemana KC, Rachna Kumari Chaudhary, Riya Sharma, Ruby Podar, Yashoda Bista, Anu Kadayat, Manisha Bohara, Laxmi Saud, Helisha Gurung, Somu Bista, Sangita Rai, Alisha Khadiya. With the qualifiers just a few months away, Nepal's women's team will be looking to fine-tune their preparations and build momentum to pursue a spot in the global event.

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