The game needed shootout after the regulation and added time ended in 1-1 stalemate. The champions pocketed Rs 200,000 while the runners-up won Rs 100,000.[break]
Gorkha Boys custodian Ritesh Thapa saved the second and third spot-kicks taken by Prabesh Katuwal and Yogesh Gurung respectively while Sandip Rai failed to convert the first penalty taken for Gorkha Boys.
Anjan KC, skipper Surendra Tamang, Roshan Karki and Pradeep Maharjan converted their spot-kicks for the winning club that included eight current or former national players. Deepak Rai, Sunil Subedi and Parbat Pandey succeeded in spot-kicks for Knight Chess.
Earlier, Knight Chess dominated the match from the beginning. They frequently took the ball to the danger zone but could not make impressive attempts. “Despite dominating the match, there was no good coordination among the strikers,” said Knight Chess coach Bhagirath Ale. “We failed to utilize opportunities.”
The first half remained goalless. Although, Gorkha Boys was under pressure, it was them who took the lead in 82nd minute. Knight Chess goalkeeper Min Bahadur Basnet blocked a shot by Joss Glantez, the French player, only to find Surendra. He crossed to Pradeep who easily netted from close-range.
Four minutes later, Hem Gurung headed the equalizer off a free-kick taken by Sachindra Dhimal.
Gorkha Boys coach Dayaram Sapkota said that they were lucky to win in tie-breaker. “The players could not come up with their full effort as they were exhausted to play the final after playing semifinal on Wednesday,” he said.
Best Player Sandip was awarded Rs 25,000 while PLA Sports Club of the Maoist combatants was awarded The Fair Play Award. The two semifinalists Pokhara XI and PLA Sports Club each were awarded Rs 50,000.
Eight teams participated in the five-day tournament.
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