Rai´s header in the 69th minute of the match in a cross of Amir Shrestha proved to be decider in the match.[break]
MMC will take on the winner of the next semifinal match between Samsung Jawalakhel Youth Club and Pune FC, India. The Jawalakhel-Pune match, scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed for Friday after persistent rain in Pokhara on Wednesday.
MMC, the two-time champion and the runner-up of the last edition, could not capitalize some scoring opportunities in the early half of the match. Ram Thapa´s shot from the danger area in a pass from Yugal Kishor Rai went wide in the 19th minute.
MMC were awarded free kick in the 64th minute as Hamisi Mwapaka of African United pulled down Sameer Limbu. Adejola Jacob took the free kick and Mbile Leonel Stephen´s header on it also went wide.
A team that participated in the name of African United had won the fourth edition of the Aha Gold Cup but the team of African players has no institutional base and the team itself is different than the previous one. Then African United had defeated MMC in the semifinal of the fourth edition.
However, African United participating in the 10th edition could not create scoring chances in Thursday´s match.
"We could not feature three key players in the semifinal as they were booked twice during the ongoing tournament. However, we played a good game but could not win the match," said Osha, the coach of the African United.
MMC Coach Hari Om Shrestha said that his side was able to produce the win as the team performed technically sound match against physically tough African players. "Our strikers Yugal and Ram are injured and we faced some problems in finishing," said Shrestha.
"Though our key players are at the closed camp training of the national team, we´ll fight for title on Saturday with better performance," he added.
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