By Tendar Tsering
DHARAMSHALA, Oct.ober 2: The quarterfinal matches at the 17th Gyalyum Chemo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC) Football Tournament lived up to its expectation as the matches went down to the wire.
The quarterfinal matches saw two extra times and the tournament’s first penalty shootout as well.
A large crowd of football fans cheered the home team Doeguling FC (Mundgod) as they beat Rabgayling FC (Hunsur) in the first of the quarterfinal match Friday by one goal.
Tsering Phuntsok of Doeguling team scored two goals helping the former champions enter the semifinals.
Phuntsok has scored 6 goals so far in the tournament and is one of the front-runners for the golden boot.
Spectators told Phayul that the second quarterfinals match between Varanasi FC and Dhondupling FC (Clement Town) was one of the hardest fought in the tournament as the match went into extra time.
Current cup-holders Clement Town finally won the match by one goal and went into the semifinals.
“During the extra time, it started raining and the ground became bit muddy but the rain and the mud didn’t dampen the spirit of the players or the excitement of the spectators,” said Kalsang Dhondup, executive secretary of Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA).
The Saturday quarterfinal matches proved even more exciting as surprise entrants TSAM Chennia beat Phakshing FC (Kathmandu) by two goals and stormed into the semis.
The last quarterfinal match between TDL FC (Bylakuppe) and Golladhalla FC (Bylakuppe) gave the spectators full value for their time as the match was decided on a penalty shootout.
With the full time and extra time ending goalless, Golladhalla FC in the penalty shootout scored 4 goals against the 3 netted by TDL FC .
The semifinals will be played between Dhondupling FC (Clement Town) and Doeguling F C (Mundgod) and TSAM Chennai will face off Golladhalla FC (Bylakuppe) for a coveted place in the finals.
