MMC netted four goals in the extra 30 minutes following a 2-2 draw in the regulation time. African player Yona Elias Ndabila starred for MMC in the additional half an hour netting a hat-trick. Sulav Maskey, deposed from the national team camp Saturday, netted the other goal. Earlier, former Indian captain Baichung Bhutia´s United Sikkim had come from two goals deficit in the second half to push the match into extra time. [break]
MMC will take on the winner of the second semifinal match to be played between Nepal´s Laxmi Bank Three Star Club and Bhutan´s champion Yeedzin FC in the final to be played Sunday.
The last time MMC had reached the final of the tournament was in 2004. Back then, MMC was defeated by BEC Tero of Thailand. This is the first time the tournament has been held after 2004.
Tanzanian forward Ndabila netted in the 10th, 20th and 28th of the additional half an hour while Maskey achieved target in the 17th minute.Earlier, MMC had taken 20th minute lead through Bhim Darlami. Though United Sikkim piled up consistent pressure, MMC custodian Ajeet Prajapati beat off one attack after another. United Sikkim wasted a golden chance of equalizing two minutes before interval. United Sikkim player missed a penalty kick as the ball hit the goal post.
MMC custodian Prajapati was substituted by Brijesh Singh in the early moments of the second half following injury. MMC skipper Sujal Shrestha made the score 2-0 in the 51st minute. But Bijendra cut the deficit for United Sikkim in the 62nd and Thubden leveled the score in the stoppage time. Earlier Bijendra missed the target for United Sikkim in the 78th while custodian Singh denied Bhutia in the 83rd.
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