Nepal thrash Sri Lanka, set up semi-final blockbuster with India

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 25: Even a draw could have sent Nepali women to the semifinal of the Women’s SAFF Championship 2024. But the host marked their entry to the last four with a 6-0 drubbing over Sri Lanka at Dashrath Stadium on Thursday. 

Rekha Paudel, the first Nepali player at the Asian Champions League, netted twice. At the same time, Nepal’s goal machine Sabitra Bhandari, Rashmi Kumari Ghishing, Sabita Rana Magar and Amisha Karki had one goal each to set up the semi-final blockbuster with Group A runners-up India. It is the straight seven times, five-time runners Nepal is playing in the semif final of the Women’s SAFF Championship. 

The win over Sri Lanka sent Nepal to the top of the Group B standings with seven points. Despite a 13-0 rout over the Maldives on the first match of a day and equal points with Nepal, Bhutan finished as a runner-up and entered the final. Bhutan will be taking Group A winner Bangladesh in the first semi-final. With two wins and one draw, Nepal and Bhutan earned equal points, but the host bettered the latter in goal margin. Nepal found the back of the net 17 times and conceded none. With today’s riot, Bhutan also scored 16 goals in group matches. 

Nepal had played a goalless draw against Bhutan and had defeated the Maldives by 11 goals.

Two South Asian islanders, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, crashed out of the tournament, remaining in third and fourth place in the table, respectively. 

Both the semifinal matches are set for October 27 at 1:30 PM and 6:30 pm. 

Nepal showed their intent from the start as they found three goals in the space of 13 minutes. On her return from France, Sabitra made her presence felt with her assist on the two goals and scoring the second goal.  Sabita Ranamagar put Nepal ahead in the 8th minute by scoring the cutback from Sabitra from the left wing. 

Sabtira doubled the advantage in the 11th minute with a brilliant screamer. Taking the pass from Bimala BK, Sabitra beat the defender and struck a powerful shot from 25 yards straight into the top corner of the second bar. 

Two minutes later, Rekha slotted the cross off Amisha Karki in the first touch from close range. 

The visitors looked helpless against the Nepali side who were relentlessly making attacks on their post. Rekha took her goal tally to seven after scoring her second in the 37th minute. She directed the Sabitra’s shot into the post from close range. 

Nepal added the fifth in the 47thminute as Amisha Karki’s free header to Sabita’s pass found the net. 

Rekha could have scored a hat-trick had her goal not been disallowed in the 84th minute by referee Barman Kanika. Rashmi Kumari Ghising killed the match in the injury time scoring a sixth goal for Nepal. It was Rashmi’s goal which sent Nepal to the top of the table.