Nepal thump Maldives 4-0 to make flying start at SAFF U20

Kathmandu, July 26 : Nepal made a flying start at SAFF U-20 Championship 2022 after registering a 4-0 comfortable victory over the Maldives in a one-side-affair in the inaugural match held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar, India on Monday.

Dipesh Gurung, Sugam Suwal, Kritish Ratna Chhunju and substitute Mangya Nakarmi netted one goal apiece in a convincing victory for Nepal.  

Nepal dominated the Maldives throughout the match to score in both halves. Nepal opened the account in the 42nd minute through a thunderbolt from Gurung. Keeper of the Maldives Shaihan Ali punched away Captain Ayush Ghalan’s freekick ball and Gurung converted the rebound from the 30-yard with a scorcher.  

After the interval, Nepal continued with their momentum with one goal cushion to add more miseries over their adversary.Nepali young guns built up the match keeping the ball in control and added three more goals in the remaining half.

Suwal doubled Nepal's tally in the 58th minute from the area beating two opponent defenders outside of the box in his solo effort.  Chhunju made the score line 3-0 for Nepal via a penalty in the 62nd minute. Nepal was awarded a penalty after the Maldivian defender Hussain Shaavin brought down Nepali captain Ghalan inside the box.  

Nakarmi sealed the match for Nepal in the dying minute from the box by scoring in the rebound. Nepal will take on Sri Lanka in their second match on Wednesday.The top two teams from the round robin league will advance into the final of the regional football championship.