Nepal shoot India out, meet Bangladesh in final

By a Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct. 28: Nepal reached the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 after defeating India 4-2 in a penalty shootout at Dasarath Rangasala on Sunday night. Nepal will face Bangladesh in the title match on October 30.

Following a 1-1 draw in regulation time on Sunday, the match proceeded directly to penalties, being interrupted for over 80 minutes. It ultimately took nearly three hours to finish the game. Sabitra Bhandari, Gita Rana, Sabita Rana Magar and Amisha Karki converted the spot kick in the surreal win of Nepal.

For five-time champions India, Manisha Kalyan and Purushottam Shirvoikar only found the net. Skipper Ashalata Devi and Ranjana Chanu failed to convert their penalty. Substitute keeper Anjana Rana Magar denied Chanu in the penalty. 

Player of the match Sabitra expressed her joy for defeating India for the second time on home ground. “It was an exceptional match. Coming back from one goal down and win the match, despite of some controversy, it was great.” She thanked all the football fans present at the stadium and watching from screen. 

The match was disrupted twice in the match. After Nepal’s Rekha Paudel was booked with a double yellow card in the 52nd minute and sent out of the ground, the match was stopped for 15 minutes with spectators throwing plastic bottles on the ground. 

The second time match was stopped for 66 minutes after the controversial decision from Referee Choki Om, who disallowed Nepal’s goal in the 72nd minute. After Indian players were celebrating the goal scored in the 72nd minute by substitute Sangita Basfore, Nepali players played the ball after referee signaled for the restart. Nepal quickly took the advantage, Sabitra kicking off and Preeti Rai scoring a goal. 

The referee initially counted Nepal’s goal but after Indian players protested, referee Om Choki, shockingly reversed the decision, denying Nepal’s goal. 

This left Nepali players and thousands of supporters present at the stadium frustrated. Nepali players protested the decision and refused to play the match. 

After 66 minutes of delay the match eventually resumed. Immediately after the resumption, Nepal’s goal machine Sabitra Bhandari stunned India with an equaliser and celebrated by taking off the jersey. 

She proved a clear threat to India as she went close to goal twice with her athletic run. India, however, survived Sabitra's threat with a solid India defence. India kept Nepal under pressure at the start with their offensive strategy. Nepali shot-stopper Anjila Tumbapo Subba denied two attempts by Indian players.

Nepal again survived the India scare in the 19th minute. Jyoti Chauhan’s header in the corner was stopped by defender Amrita Jaishi inside a six-yard box. Jyoti immediately had a chance to score in the rebound but she could direct it to the post.

Nepal could have scored in the 31st minute but Indian custodian E. Panthoi Chanu stopped Sabitra Bhandari’s shot from outside the penalty area. On the rebound, Amisha Karki had a shot from close range only to be warded off by Chanu.  

In the fourth minute of injury time, India again squandered the opportunity as Jyoti and Aruna Bag’s shots failed to get past goalkeeper Anjila. 

Anjila again rescued Nepal by blocking the free kick of Manisha Kalyan. 

Bangladesh defeated Bhutan by 7-1 in the first semifinal played on Sunday. Bangladesh booked the final spot for the second straight time and will be looking to defend the title. 

Bangladesh scored five goals in the first half and added two in the other half. Tohura Khatun netted a treble while Sabina Khatun added two goals and Ritu Porna Chakma and Sheuliazim netted one goal each. 

Ritu put Bangladesh ahead in the 7th minute. Tohura doubled the advantage in the 15th minute. She scored her second in the 35th and 58th minute to complete her hat-trick of goals. Sabina scored goals in the 26th and 37th minute.

Deki Lhazom found a consolation goal for Bhutan in the 41st minute. Sheuliazim killed the match in the 72nd minute.