By Sachit Subba • Football • Feb 09, 2026 14:27 PM • 29 views
BIRTAMOD – Hosts Jhapa XI FC booked their place in the semifinals of the 7th Jhapa Gold Cup following a nerve-wracking 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Sikkim’s Singling Sporting Club on Monday.
In an intense opening quarterfinal at the Birtamod grounds, neither side could break the deadlock during the regulation 90 minutes, forcing the match straight into a high-stakes shootout.
The Decisive Moments
Despite Jhapa XI dominating the lion's share of possession and creating numerous chances, a lack of clinical finishing kept the scoreline 0-0. The local favorites finally found their composure from the spot:
For Jhapa XI: Roman Bhujel, Saurabh Dhimal, Rajesh Dahal, and Bibek Magar all converted their strikes. For Singling SC: Sonuhang Subba, Helmet Subba, and Suraj Tamang found the net, but Sujan Subba saw his effort denied by the keeper, while Dipesh Chhetri fired wide.
Jhapa’s goalkeeper Bibek Magar emerged as the hero of the day, not only scoring his penalty but also producing a crucial save to secure the win. For his efforts, he was named Player of the Match and awarded a cash prize of NPR 25,000.
Match Analysis: Dominance Without Goals
Jhapa XI will likely view this "tough win" as a missed opportunity to settle the game early. The hosts began mounting serious pressure from the 28th minute when foreign recruit Olawale Afeez saw his powerful strike parried by Singling’s keeper, Wilson Sherpa.
Samir Tamang was particularly active but frustrated by the woodwork and narrow misses, including a 49th-minute header that drifted wide with the keeper already beaten. Singling Sporting struggled to find their rhythm, though captain Uttam Rai missed a golden one-on-one opportunity in the 59th minute that could have silenced the home crowd.
The action continues on Tuesday with the second quarterfinal, featuring a heavyweight clash between Tribhuvan Army FC and Laliguras Association Nepal, Pokhara.
