Kings Cup Bhutan: MMC (Nepal) beat United Sikkim FC (India) to enter final

MMC players celebrating after scoring against United Sikkim FC

In an extra time extravaganza, Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyngdi Club (MMC) of Nepal defeated United Sikkim FC (India) 6-2 to secure a berth in the final of the prestigious King´s Cup Football Tournament being held at Thimpu, Bhutan.

Both teams were locked at 2 – 2 in the regulation time of the match, with MMC scoring four goals in the extra 30 minutes. African player Yona Elias Ndabila starred for MMC in the extra time, scoring a hat-trick for MMC while Sulav Maskey, recently deposed from the national team for SAFF 2013, netted other goal for MMC.

MMC took the lead in 20th minute through Bhim Darlami and doubled the lead in the 51st minute through skipper Sujal Shrestha. But former Indian captain Baichung Bhutia’s United Sikkim FC came back from the two goal deficit in the last 30 minute of the match to push the match into extra time. Bijendra cut the deficit for United Sikkim FC in the 62nd minute while Thubden leveled the score in the stoppage time to force the match into extra time. Tanzanian forward Ndabila netted in the 10th, 20th and 28th of the additional half an hour for MMC while Sulav Maskey netted one in the 17th minute of the extra time to make scoreline 6 – 2.

MMC will take on the winner of the second semifinal match to be played between Nepal´s Laxmi Bank Three Star Club and Bhutan´s champion Yeedzin FC. The final of the tournament is to be played on Sunday.

The last time MMC had reached the final of the tournament was in 2004. Back then, MMC was defeated by BEC Tero of Thailand.