Nepal progress to SAFF U17 semis, loses against Uzbekistan in AFC U20

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 26: Nepal’s U17 side booked their place in the semi-final of the SAFF Championship after defeating host Bhutan in the Thimpu-based Changlimithang Stadium by 2-1 Wednesday night. It was a comeback win as Bhutan led first. Nepal will now face India in the semi-final match on September 28.

Bhutan’s No. 10 Chimi Tobden Dorji scored in the 43rd minute to end the first half with a lead for the team. It was however a result of a mistake by goalie Pemba Nurbu Bhote. He could not grab the back header, which was pretty high, from the defender allowing Dorji to steal the ball and score freely. 

The second half started with both teams attacking. And an intense start was intensified with every goal, both from Nepal’s youngsters. While the host was on a high after leading in front of a loud home crowd, Nepal’s equaliser at the start of the 56th minute, a long ranger freekick from around 30 yards away by Krishna Bahadur Ale, brought the crowd to silence.

And at the end of the 84th minute, substitute goalie Bhakta Bahadur Pariyar hit a long ball that went past the Bhutanese defenders and converted into an assist when Sujan Dangol ran with the ball and, calm and composedly, chipped over the opponent’s goalie to score the comeback goal. 

There were several stoppage moments due to fouls and injuries that led the officials to add nine minutes after the 90. Nepali players were holding their ground disallowing Bhutan a chance to equalise. The best moment was the 90+10 minute when Bhutan earned a corner and even the goalie came to receive a header. Nepali defenders and goalie were able to prevent the goal that mattered the most for Bhutan. 

The tension was so high that Bhutan’s captain Ngawang Yonten was shown yellow twice, the last one in the final minutes, both due to conflict with the match official. 

Nevertheless, alongside Nepal, Pakistan has qualified for the semi-final from Group B and will play with Group A winners India and Bangladesh respectively.

Uzbekistan thrash Nepal

Nepal’s U20 side lost in its third of the four group-stage matches in the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers by a score of 6-0 Wednesday night at Fu Jen University in New Taipei, Chinese Taipei.  

The number of goals conceded by the Nepali side hints that the team performed poorly; however, the side suffered defeat from the toughest team in the tournament, Uzbekistan, the defending champions of the AFC U20 Asian Cup. 

Moreover, the Nepali side was down to 10 men after the first 20 minutes against the champions. Defender Sabin Ghimire was shown a red card in the 20th minute as he used his hand to fend off a certain goal from the goal line. Nevertheless, Jiyarat Sheikh saved the penalty awarded to Uzbekistan and denied the first goal.

But the next 10 minutes saw a lack of composure amongst the Nepali side that had just been reduced by a man. And they conceded three goals, all from headers, within the span. In the 24th minute, Uzbekistan earned a corner and Saidnurullayev Saidumarkhon scored with a powerful header caused by a run and jump; a goal which Jiyarat had no chance of saving. After the goal, forward Niraj Karki was subbed out for defender Dipak Thapa Magar. 

In the 27th, another header took Uzbekistan’s lead to two. Moreover, it was again Saidumarkhon whose head found the ball over a cross by Uzbekistan’s No. 10 Mukhammadali Urinboev. 

And two minutes later Nurlan Ibraimov scored on a header that went past the goalie’s legs. In 29 minutes, Nepal was down 3-0.

Uzbekistan slowed their tempo after the promising lead allowing Nepal to settle at the 3-0 mark until the first half. And the second half started with a surprise.

Nepal’s coach Urjan Shrestha made three changes before the whistle started the second half. Goalie Jiyarat, midfielder Lachhu and forward Samir Tamang, who scored a hat-trick against host Chinese Taipei in the previous game, were replaced by Krishal Moktan, Anil Bomjan and Dharbendra Kunwar respectively. The final sub was made in the 77th minute as forward Nirajan Dhami was replaced by defender Aayush Timsina.

Until then, Uzbekistan had added another goal to their tally. Mirzaev Lazizbek scored an outside curler from the left side, from the front line of the 18-yard-box, to beat Krishal. 

The fifth and sixth goals came in the 87th and 90th minutes through Meyirbek Rejabaliev and substitute Haydarov Abdugafur respectively. 

Nepal had lost to Cambodia in the first group match and it was followed by a win over the host. Of the five teams in Group B of the qualifiers, Nepal is in 4th position with three points. Nepal will play the final group match against Bahrain on September 27. 

Nepal can have a chance to qualify for the Cup tournament by defeating Bahrain.