Army Crushes RS Pokhara in Record-Breaking Gold Cup Opener
BHADRAPUR: Tribhuvan Army Football Club advanced to the semifinals of the first Om Sai Pathibhara Hospital ChandragadHi Women’s Gold Cup, displaying impressive finishing skills. Many expected a close match, but the Army team dominated RS Pokhara with a decisive 6-0 win in Nepal’s richest women’s football tournament opener. The disciplined Army team’s superior skill was evident from kickoff. As Nepal’s sporting ambitions grow, its strong performance has marked it as a tournament favourite. **A First-Half Blitz** Deepa Shahi opened the scoring in the 11th minute, finishing a rebound after Pokhara goalkeeper Manisha Tamang failed to hold a shot from Bimala Chaudhary. The Army’s constant pressure pinned Pokhara back, forcing mistakes and stifling counter-attacks. Bimala Chaudhary doubled the lead in the 26th minute, chipping in from outside the box after spotting the keeper out of position. Two minutes later, she finished a cross from Sanju Kumal with a quick one-touch, putting the game out of reach before 30 minutes. Chandra Bhandari made it 4-0 in the 35th minute, heading in a Deepa Shahi corner. Pokhara seemed stunned by the rapid goals.  **Total Domination** The second half offered no respite for Pokhara—the game remained just as tough. In the 50th minute, Jennifer Rana Magar was first to reach a loose ball after a save and scored the fifth goal, exposing more problems in Pokhara’s defence. Chandra Bhandari capped the scoring in the 62nd minute with a powerful long-range shot into the far corner. Over the full 90 minutes, RS Pokhara failed to record a meaningful shot on target; their midfield was overrun, and their strikers lacked service. **Match Honours and What’s Next** Bimala Chaudhary earned Player of the Match for her two goals and creative play, receiving a cash prize of 11,000 Rupees. A record 1.1 million Rupees is on offer for the champions, making this a major milestone for women’s club football in Nepal. The tournament continues tomorrow, with Bhutan’s Thimphu City FC facing Church Boys United in Bhadrapur.
