Defeating Nepal by 10 goals, India into SAFF U16 final vs Bangladesh

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 8: Nepal faced a humiliating defeat to India in the ongoing SAFF U16 Women’s Championship in Lalitpur on Thursday. India scored 10 goals and ensured its spot in the final match of the championship against Bangladesh scheduled on Saturday.

With Bangladesh already qualifying for the finals after defeating Nepal and India, the match on Thursday was a decider for the other finalist. Keeping a clean sheet, India scored in double figures to reach the final.

India opened the account in the second minute of the match as Anita Dungdung. A commotion in the box between Nepali players disallowing them to clear the ball created a chance for Anita. Similar poor play was visible throughout the 90 minutes due to which India scored 10 times past Nepal.

Pearl Fernandes made it 2-0 in the 14th minute. After Anushka Kumari scored in the 22nd, Bonifilia Shullai in the 25th and Gurleen Kaur Sidhu in the 32nd, Pearl made it 6-0 in the 43rd minute to lead by six goals in the first half. India extended the lead in the initial phase of the second half. 

However, the seventh goal was an own goal for Nepal. Min Maya Shrestha, while trying to clear a freekick, scored an own goal in the 46th minute.

Substitute Gurnaz Kaur made it 8-0 in the 58th minute, and Sidhu scored her second to make it 9-0 in the 77th minute. The final and 10th goal for Nepal was scored by substitute Rheanna Liz Jacob in the 79th minute.

With the loss, Nepal’s journey in the tournament has come to an end. Nepal was able to win only one of the three matches it played. Nepal defeated Bhutan 3-0 on March 4.