By Sachit Subba • Football • Apr 25, 2026 15:37 PM • 27 views
Machhindra Football Club triumphantly captured the third edition of the Ilam Gold Cup with a 2-0 win over defending champions New Road Team (NRT) in eastern Nepal. With seasoned national stars and spirited emerging talent on display, the final delivered edge-of-your-seat intensity. After a tense, scoreless first half, Machhindra electrified the game: Saurav Subba struck in the 47th minute, and Milan Chamling followed swiftly just three minutes later to seal an unforgettable victory.
Machhindra celebrated with a 1 million NPR prize and the coveted trophy, while NRT proudly took home 500,000 NPR as runners-up. Under the dynamic guidance of Best Coach Prabesh Katuwal, Machhindra’s stars dazzled: Sanish Shrestha captured the Most Valuable Player title (51,000 NPR), Pradip Bhandari shone as Best Goalkeeper, and Yubaraj Dhakal impressed as Best Midfielder. Meanwhile, NRT’s Ashish Gurung stood out as Best Defender, and Machhindra’s Milan Chamling fired in goals to secure the Golden Boot. Since April 18 (Baisakh 5), the Red Horse Football Club’s thrilling eight-team knockout tournament has invigorated the local scene, firmly establishing the Ilam Gold Cup as a highlight on Nepal’s regional football calendar.
