Nepal Three Star lifts 30th All India Governor's Gold Cup

Gangtok, Oct 25 (UNI) Nepal Three Star rode on Lady Luck to edge past Army XI by a solitary goal to lift the 30th All India Governor's Gold Cup at the Paljor stadium here today.

Striker Santosh Shaukhalah fired the all important salvo in the 80th minute, triggering wild celebrations among the 25,000 strong crowd, who had gathered to watch the final.

Earlier, Army XI was unlucky on two occasions when Ngurneilal and Mahesh Rai's shots hit the woodwork.

The Nepal club's custodian Kiran Chamjang manned the bar magnificently and brought off half a dozen spectacular saves. The Army team had dominated the match right from the word go but could not find the finishing touch.

An ecstatic Three Star coach Upendra Man Singh said, ''I was part of the Nepal team that lifted the Governor's Gold Cup in 1998 and today is a proud moment for me to win this coveted trophy one more time as a coach.'' Singh said Army XI was unlucky as it had dominated the game.

A shattered Army XI coach Raghvindra Singh rued the missed chances by his players.

''Luck was also not our side as we struck the crossbar twice and muffed several chances,'' he said.

''Nepal club got one chance and they utilised,'' the Army coach said.

Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh handed over the trophies to the teams.

Sikkim Football Association had organided the Governor's Gold Cup, which began from October 14.

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