JYC will now take on the winners between Three Star Club and Friends Club next week for a place in the final.[break]
The victory on Tuesday was another historic achievement for JYC as they reached the semifinals in top flight football after 19 years.
The last time they entered the semifinals of a major tournament was in the Wai Wai Cup in 1991. On the occasion, they were defeated 1-0 by Janakpur Cigarette Factory team, who eventually went on to lift the title.
JYC, established in 1972, had won the Tilottama Gold Cup in Butwal some six weeks ago for their first major title in 38 years. JYC had defeated Army in sudden death in the final.
Ram Kumar Biswas of Nepal Army in action against Bishal Rai of Jawalakhel. (Photo: Keshab Thoker)
Subba scored the decider six minutes after the interval for his fourth individual goal in the tournament to join Santosh Sahukhala of Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) as the tournament´s leading goal scorer. An unmarked Subba sent the ball past the net from the box on a pass from Amar Subba.
Army, despite dominating ball possession, seemed weak in their finishing line-up though they made a few attacks.
Army coach Dambar Singh Gurung said that lack of a skillful striker was the major drawback for his side. "Despite getting opportunities the boys failed to utilize them as there aren´t good strikers in the squad," Gurung said, adding that his side put up a good show overall.
In the 13th minute Raju Tamang´s free shot sailed high above the bar, and in the 33rd minute Jawalakhel custodian Dinesh Thapa Magar made a heroic diving save to deny Bishwa Bairag Samal´s powerful long-range effort. Chakra Tamang´s last minute bid to level the score went in vain as his header in an open net went inches wide from the pole.
During the first half Army skipper and custodian Bikash Malla denied a couple of Jawalakhel attacks --by scorer Subba in the 20th and by Bishal Rai A (Jersey No 18) in the 40th minute.
Jawalakhel coach Rajaram KC opined that impressive performance and luck were the major factors in their victory. He also stressed the need for bettering their finishing line-up for favorable results in their upcoming matches. "We put up a better show in the second half, though we were under pressure before the interval," KC said.
Matches postponed
The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has postponed Wednesday´s third quarterfinal match scheduled to be held between two departmental teams, Nepal Police Club and Armed Police Force (APF), citing technical reasons.
According to the announcement made Tuesday, the match will be held on Monday and all the matches thereafter will be held a day later than their pre-scheduled dates. As per the announcement, the last quarterfinal match scheduled for Monday between two Lalitpur clubs --Three Star and Friends-- will now be played on Tuesday.
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