Substitute SL Chiang scored the lone goal of the match in the 68th minute to seal the victory for TPC who has qualified for the final stage for the first time. Chiang had replaced SA Tsai two minutes after the interval. Chiang made an attractive one-touch strike from box in a pass of YW Chen.[break]
In another match at Halchowk Ground, FC Balkan of Turkmenistan beat Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) of Pakistan with identical score to qualify for the final stage as group runners-up coming behind TPC on the basis of goals superiority. Diwanov Nurgylych scored the decisive goal in the 31st minute.
Both the teams -- winner and runner- up --have accumulated seven points each.
This is also the worst ever performance by any Nepali team in the President´s Cup. This is the first occasion that a Nepali club finished goalless and pointless in the President´s Cup in the seven editions held so far.
Police, also the runners up of 2007 edition in the President´s Cup and semifinalist the following year, for the first time finished goalless and pointless and crashed out from the group stage for the second time. The last time Police crashed out from the group stage was in 2009 at the Dasharath Stadium. Police has participated in the President´s Cup for a record fourth time from Nepal.
As in previous two outings, Police on Sunday again repeated clinical problems in finishing. Despite getting about four opportunities Police failed to make a proper finishing. TPC had created fewer moves as compared to the home side.
Analyzing his side´s weaknesses in the whole tournament, Police coach Birat Krishna Shrestha said that his side failed in utilizing chances despite getting opportunities. “We failed to utilize chances so we were down in all three matches,” Shrestha said.
Defending his team´s performance, he said, “Football is a game of mistake and it happens accidentally. Whichever cashes in on the mistakes of opponents wins the match.”
Striker Bharat Khawas failed to give lead to the home team in the 50th minute despite beating goalie YH Chiang as TPC defender cleared the ball before he could fire it into the net. Similarly, Yogesh Shrestha and Bhola Silwal also squandered scoring opportunities.
TPC coach Jen Chen Kuei rated the Police team as a strong opponent.
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