When Paro FC was drawn with Transport United FC in the semi finals of the ongoing Samtse championship, many thought Paro FC, who didn’t lose a single game, would reach the finals.
But that hope was dashed when Transport United FC pulled the biggest surprise of the championship beating Paro FC 4-2 yesterday.
Paro FC entered the semi-final as one of the two teams to remain undefeated in the championship, while Transport United FC was not sure to qualify for the semi-final until Ugyen Academy FC defeated Pran Jaigaon FC in the group stage round.
Despite enjoying a strong start and leading the game from the 10th minute Paro FC couldn’t keep up the tempo. The game changed when Transport’s Kencho Tobgay scored a long-range goal to level the score in the 47th minute. The striker helped Transport United lead when he scored his brace in the 69th minute.
Having lost both games to Paro FC in the national league last year in Thimphu and Paro, Kencho Tobgay said that the third meeting with Paro FC was a must-win game.
“We conceded in the early half and that gave us more pressure. The environment in the locker room after the half was not well,” he said. “However, we managed to level the score in the early second half and changed the game.”
He added that the championship gave them an opportunity to play away from Thimphu and western regions and gave a good experience to learn and let the crowd know about football clubs in the country. “This would help improve sports in the country, especially for the younger generation,” said Kencho Tobgay.
Meanwhile, in the first semi-final of the championship between Ugyen Academy FC and Thimphu City FC on January 23, Ugyen Academy beat Thimphu City 4-3 on penalties.
The fulltime ended 1-1 after Tshering Dorji from Thimphu City FC and Yeshi Dorji from Ugyen Academy FC managed to score one goal each to take the game into penalties.
Choki Wangchuk from Ugyen Academy FC, named the man of the match, said his team could not play well after conceding an early goal. “In the second half, we bounced back and gave 100 percent. Luckily we scored and hope to see a better game in the final.”
The first final between Ugyen Academy FC, the only undefeated team in the championship, and Transport United FC tomorrow will be the fifth time the two clubs are meeting in a final.
In the last four meeting between the two, Transport United FC won all four games and also recorded the biggest win against Ugyen Academy FC in November last year in Thimphu.
The champions of the championship will take home Nu 200, 000 and the runners up Nu 100,000. Bhutan Football Federation spent more than Nu 3 million to host the month-long championship that will end tomorrow.
Nima