Winning all three matches APF accumulated nine points while the runners up NRT added six points in their account. Sankata, which crashed out, finished third in the group following the defeat, collecting four points with a win, draw and loss each. Western Region returned home pointless.
The group stage matches completed on Wednesday. The quarterfinal round will begin from Thursday.
Sankata, which could have qualified for the quarterfinals had they played a draw, conceded the first goal in the 44th minute in the competitive first half of the match. Subash Rai scored the first while Nirajan Rayamajhi added another in a golden touch and the last goal came as gift as Sankata defender Sudeep Sikhrakar scored an own goal during the dying moments of the match.
In the competitive match, both the teams attempted to find the back of the net in the first half. However, it was NRT to materialize their dream of scoring. Subash scored one minute before the interval through a feeble shot from the edge of the box.
Likewise, Nirajan, late substitute for Bijay Majhi scored in a golden touch in the 83rd minute promptly after his entry in the field out of a scuffle from the box in a free kick of Khum Gurung. In a bid to defend the ball Sudip directed the ball toward his own post in the 87th minute in a cross supplied by Laxman Ruchal of NRT.
NRT dominated the second half of the match in terms of goal possession and intensified their attacks. Earlier, in the first half, both the teams had scored one goal each but the referee ruled both as offside goals.
NRT coach Diken Suwal was dissatisfied despite the victory and lamented the lack of striker in the team. “The players could not score during good moves. The national players failed to play up to their capacity,” Diken said.
Sankata coach Uzol Manandhar said that the team failed to perform up to their potential. “Only a draw could have steered the team toward the knockout stage but the players played under pressure,” Uzol said.
The other match dominated by APF against Western Region saw a shower of goals including two hat-tricks. Jeevesh Panday and Top Bahadur Bista scored a hat-trick each. Jeevesh scored the first three goals of the match in the 6th, 30th and 42nd minutes and Top Bahadur netted in the 58th, 69th and 78th minutes. Ganesh Lawati scored a brace during the injury time of the first half and in the 48th minute, respectively. Western skipper Rajan Shakya scored an own goal in the 63rd minute.
APF coach Maheshwar Mulmi said that he had taken the match as a setting up of the team for the upcoming matches. “However, there was no good coordination among the players,” Maheshwar said.
Western coach Yam Gurung said that he had removed five first choice players from the starting list. “I did not guide the team today and left them to play in their own capacity,” Yam said.
French player in Three Star
Nabil Three Star Club are all set to come up with a French player in their squad against Nepal Police Club in their quarterfinal match in the British Gurkha Cup on Thursday.
Joss has been undergoing training with the team for the last three days.
According to Three Star coach Bal Gopal Maharjan, Joss will come in the playing set. “Joss has been undergoing training for the last three days and other players are pleased as well."
Three Star registered his name in the All Nepal Football Association on Wednesday.
Thursday´s match
Nepal Police Club Vs Nabil Three Star @ 13:30 NST
Dasharath Stadium
Group D Points Table
| Teams | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| APF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 7 |
| NRT | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| Sankata | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Western XI | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
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