Nepal defeats Sri Lanka in SAFF U17, host Chinese Taipei in U20 Asian Cup Q’fiers

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 24:The Nepali side registered their first win in the SAFF U17 Championship after defeating Sri Lanka on Monday. Nepal won by a score of 4-0 in the match played at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu, Bhutan.

Nepal was desperate for a win as they lost to Pakistan by 1-0 after conceding a late goal in the first match of the tournament. The Sanoj Shrestha-led side was able to make a proper comeback and prove their candidacy for the Cup on Monday.

Sujan Dangol was the hero for Nepal as he gave the team a two-goal lead within 12 minutes. Sujan scored the first through a header on a cross by Ekraj Bishwakarma in the 4th minute. 

For the second goal, an interception was made by Nepal allowing captain Subash Bam to run with the ball freely from the own half to the opponent’s box. Bam then passed the ball to Sujan inside the 6-yard-box for an easy goal.

Nepal made it 3-0 within the first half with a counter-attack goal by John Bista in the 30th minute. The defenders stole the ball from inside the box from Hirun Mirasha Krawege and a long cross allowed Bista to run, dribble past a couple of players and score against the forward-coming goalie. The fourth and final goal came in the 84th minute through Bigyan Khadka.

With three points, Nepal, which is in Group B, with Pakistan, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, has equalled the points with Pakistan and Bhutan. However, Pakistan and Bhutan are one match behind. Thus, Nepal needs to win the next match against Bhutan to increase the chances to progress forward as the group’s Top 2 teams. 

U20 defeats host 

Similarly, the U20 side, which is in Chinese Taipei for the group stage of the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers, defeated the host at Fu Jen University Ground in New Taipei on Monday.

Nepal defeated Chinese Taipei with a score of 3-1 and registered their first win in Group B, which also includes Uzbekistan, Bahrain and Cambodia. Nepal had lost to Cambodia by 1-4 in the first group-stage match on Saturday.

The U20 side was seen as far more composed in the match against Chinese Taipei compared to the games the squad played since the SAFF U19 Championship in August.

Samir Tamang gave Nepal the lead first in the 32nd minute as he capitalised on a poor clearance from a Chinese Taipei defender just outside the 18-yard box. He then scored in the top right corner from a congestion of the opponent’s defenders. Not even two minutes later, Nepal got another chance due to another poor performance from the defenders. A soft pass by Nirajan Dhami was shot from over 20 yards away by Samir to make it 2-0.

Chinese Taipei replied with a goal just before the end of the first half’s four minutes of additional time to make it 2-1. Yang Chao-Jing was the scorer.

However, Nepal did not allow the host to make a comeback. Moreover, Samir completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute through a fine header. It became the decider for Nepal as the team got three points and joined the race for the top place. 

Nepal is facing defending champions Uzbekistan and Bahrain on September 25 and 27 respectively.