Kathmandu, May 7

Nepal Police Club booked the early tickets to the home as their dream to qualify for the final round of the AFC President’s Cup was shattered by host Phnom Penh Crown Football Club by 1-0 in the Group B Qualifiers at National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Monday.

The loan goal from Khim Borey put the host team in the final round while Police Club registered second consecutive defeat along with Bhutanese league Champions Yeedzin FC to crash out from the qualifiers.

Police will meet Yeedzin on 9th May for the consolation victory before returning to home. Yeedzin suffered 11-2 loss against Tazikistan league champions Dordoi Dynamo.

Dordoi and Phnom Penh advanced to the qualifiers finishing first and second respectively in the table. Dordoi toppled latter in goal superiority as both team collected equal six points from two victories.

From the counter move Phnom Penh took the lead in the 21st minutes as Borey found the ball just inside the box and slammed into the net as Police defense were caught napping.

Police Club started in the attacking note but after conceding the goal they gave away the control of the game to the host Club. The Phnom Penh has flurry of chances to score in the remaining time but to their bad luck they could not find any goal. Yogesh Shrestha tried his luck in the 5th minutes but his flick ball went wide after defelection. Parbat Pandey shot the ball in the rebound but Borey headed the ball out.

In another attempt, Shrestha’s shot to the ball off Dipendra Poudel from 30 yard was difficultly saved by goalie York.

In the 80th minutes, NPC was awarded with free kick after Pandey was fouled. Shrestha kicked the curling free kick ball but the host shot-stopper York warded off brilliantly to rescue his team from conceding equalizer.