Nepal wins women’s friendly series over Bangladesh

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 17: Nepal won the International Women’s Friendly Series 1-0 against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday. Nepal overcame host Bangladesh 4-2 in a tiebreaker at Birshrestha Shahid Sipahi Mohammad Mustafa Kamal Stadium.

After settling for a 1-1 draw in the first match, both Nepal and Bangladesh eyed a victory to win the series. But the match had to be decided in a penalty shootout after both the team failed to find the goal in regulation time. 

Striker Sabitra Bhandari, Hira Kumari Bhujel, Dipa Shahi and Anita KC converted the spot kick for Nepal. Second-choice goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar hit the bar for Nepal. 

Magar, however, amended her failure by making two heroic saves to hand Nepal a victory. She blocked penalties of Sheuli Azim and Maria Manda to deny host Bangladesh on their home soil. Shamsunnahar and Monika Chakma could only score for Bangladesh. 

Both Nepal and Bangladesh struggled to find the goal as strikers failed to break the defence wall of each other.  Bangladeshi defence neutralized Nepal’s prolific striker Bhandari while Nepali defenders also played cautiously while foiling as many attempts of the host team. Goalkeeper Rupna Chakma foiled attempts from Bhandari in 43rd and 44th minute. Bhandari’s free kick in the 82nd minute also went straight to the hand of Chakma. 

Head Coach Anant Tamang benched Midfielders Renu Nagarkoti, Preeti Rai and Amisha Karki for today’s match. Tamang replaced them with forward duo Rashmi Kumari Ghising and Anita Basnet and Midfielder Anita KC.

The first match held on Thursday ended in a 1-1 tie. Striker Bhandari rescued Nepal with a late equaliser in the stoppage time of the second half. Captain Sabina Khatun had put Bangladesh ahead in the 65th minute in the first friendly. 

Nepal went to Bangladesh in a preparation for the Asian Games.