source: kantipuronline.com

DHARAN, Feb 26 - Three Star Club (TSC) ended its two-decade long drought lifting the title of the Tuborg Budhasubba Gold Cup Football tournament today with a convincing 3-0 win over Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC). TSC also pocketed cash prize of Rs 70,000.

This is Three Star’s only second major knockout tournament title inside the country after Mahendra Gold Cup some 12 years ago. However, the national league champion won its last major title, North Bengal Gold Cup Trophy in Sikkim, India.Ace midfielder Pradip Maharjan, veteran Balgopal Maharjan and young striker Santosh Sahukhala who shouldered the major share of TSC strikeforce in the absence of star striker Surendra Tamang, scored apiece in the ‘Lalitpur Derby’. With the win TSC added its fifth major title to the collection since its promotion to A Division in 1983.TSC showed early signs of taking home the trophy with a second-minute goal from Pradip Maharjan. He netted a 20-yard free kick at the second bar to give the league champion early lead. Both the teams went on the offensive with the early breakthrough.

TSC scored twice within six minutes in the second half to complete the convincing win over JYC. Best player of the tournament, Santosh Sahukhala broke JYC defense in the 61st minute with Pradip’s assistance. The win could not have been more convincing with veteran striker Balgopal Maharjan scoring the third and the last TSC goal six minutes later. Pradip once again was in the thick of action setting the ball for unmarked Balgopal."We entered the field with an early attacking strategy and we succeeded" said TSC coach Aman Adhikari after the win. TSC also paid homage at the famous Budhasubba temple in Dharan, with club president Lalit Krishna Shrestha leading the team, before the match.

The final did not live up to the expectations and the thousands of spectators were deprived of the excitement of the last two semifinals. Few lost opportunities made the matter worse for JYC that had registered a sensational win over MPC securing its first ever final appearance in any major knockout tournament on Friday. Raj Kumar Ghising, who was the trump card for JYC coach Kishor KC, missed an opportunity to equalize in the 20th minute.

Santosh Sahukhala got a motorbike for being best player of the tournament while runner-up, JYC pocketed cash prize of Rs 35,000 along with the runner-up trophy. Pradip Maharjan was the undoubted man of the final and got cash prize of Rs 5,000. Dharan Football Club organized the tournament featuring 12 clubs from Nepal and India.