This is the fifth time that hosts has booked a place in last four but they have never been able to able to find a place in final in the last nine editions.[break]
Uttam Gurung and Subash Gurung scored one each for the hosts in first half to send the visitors home.
Sahara will now take on the winner among Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) and Nepal Army Club to be held on Monday in the semifinal.
Uttam scored through a freekick in the 22nd minute from near the box to put the home put the home team ahead. Uttam was later adjudged the-man-of-the-match. Subash scored another 10 minute later when he meet Khum Gurung´s pass.
The visitor was bound to return home in their very first participation in Pokhara after they squandered some scoring chances. Denzong Boys who came up aggressively from the beginning failed to continue with their tune after conceding an early goal. In the first half, Amir Lama´s strike went inches wide from the crossbar and in the other half too Lama´s freekick went off the target.
Sahara also missed some scoring chances.
Denzong Boys coach Karma Bhutia opined that his side was defeated as they failed to utilize opportunities. “Our boys failed to utilize two scoring chances which became the major cause of defeat,” Bhutia said adding the new ground and exclusion of two Nigerian strikers of the squad were also the other reasons for defeat. According to Bhutia, they were asked not to include those Nigerian players of their set citing that Nigerian players do not have permission to stay in Nepal.
Denzong Boys are the 12th team from abroad to participate in the Aaha Gold Cup.
“The opponents failed to utilize scoring chances which became advantage for us,” Sahara coach Kiran Shrestha said. He also opined that his sides´ performance was improving day by day.
On Sunday, Himalayan Sherpa will lock their horns against Three Star Club in the second quarterfinal match of the event.
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