DHARAMSHALA, June 9: The defending champions of the Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament, the largest sporting event of the Tibetan exiles, Pokhara Tashiling will face Doeguling Mundgod FC in the finals on Wednesday.
Pokhara won 2 goals to nil on Penalties which turned into a one sided affair with three excellent saves from the Pokhara custodian who took the goalkeeper’s duty minutes before the second half of the extra time ended.
Pokhara had injured their first goalkeeper in the clash against Delhi FC in the quarter finals. The substitute goal keeper had his nervous moments but the resilient defenders of Pokhara Tashiling made the job a lot easier for the inexperienced goalkeeper.
TDl Bylakupee spot kick takers missed four penalties giving their opponents an easy win after nerve-wrecking game that went into extra time.
Pokhara scored the first goal through their top scorer Pema Lhundup who is also one of the 3 top scorers of the tournament. If he scores one more goal in the finals he stands a good chance of winning the golden boot.
TDL Bylakupee scored a wonderful equalizer through their player who is also known as Messi. He hit a shot that was blocked by the goalkeeper and bounced off back to him. Before the defenders could react he chipped it past the goalkeeper.
The remaining part of the game remained goalless despite both the teams creating some wonderful chances to score.
The second semi final between Doeguling Mundgod FC and Dhasa United saw an early goal for Mundgod from their captain Afri who capitalized on a mistake by the Dhasa goalkeeper who could not grab a bouncing shot. Mundgod then resiliently defended their early lead until the last minute of the game and also gave a hard time for Dhasa United defenders who looked under constant pressure from an attacking side.
Tibetan Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay will grace the final game on Wednesday between Pokhara Tashiling FC and Doeguling Mundgod FC. A women’s team from Punjab will play against the Tibetan women’s national team in a friendly game before the final of the 21st Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament which is heavily financed by the Gaden Phodrang, office of the Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
