Nepal beat Bangladesh 1-0
Dhaka, December 4: Nepal defeated Bangladesh by 1-0 goal in the group B match of the SAFF Championship at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi on Sunday.
It is the fifth defeat for Bangladesh and first after 18 years in 15 encounters against Nepal.
Sagar Thapa scored the winner from a free kick in the last minute of the five minute stoppage time from the edge of the box. With the win Nepal moved on the top of the table with four points, Bangladesh remained on one earned by the virtue of the goalless draw against Pakistan. Nepal earlier drew 1-1 with Maldives.
National coach Nikola Ilievski made four changes changes inserting Alamgir Kabir Rana, Towhidul Alam Abdul Malek and Mamun Miah in the starting eleven. Later Shujon, Mithun Chowdhury and Emon Babu entered the field as substitutes.
Nepal was the livelier side and attacked Bangladesh from the beginning. In the 10th minute Rohit Chand unleashed a 35 yarder to see Shahidul Alam Sohel parry it for a corner. From t 21st minute Rabin Shrestha went down the left flank and pulled it back for Bharat Khawas who shot over the bar.
Bangladesh reunited in the second half but failed to pierce the Nepalese defence.
Robin Shrestha curved a free kick from the left flank in the 73rd minute and forward Santosh Sahukhala held the ball but goalie Sohel came forward to deny the Santosh.
Rana unleashed a shot from 25 yards in the 75th minute but it went straight to golaie Kiran Chemzong.
In the 76th minute Mithun crossed a the ball from right flank, Nepalese goalie Kiran was beaten, Mishu slid well to touch the ball but it missed the sidepost.
Mishu’s header off a Nasir cross in the 80th minute was brilliantly saved Kiran Chemzong who dived full stretch.
Bangladesh conceded the goal with a few seconds away from the final whistle. Mamun Miah’s foul on Robin Shreshta earned Nepal a free kick and Sagar Thapa curled the ball hit the back of the net through the top left corner.
Bangladesh faces Maldives in the last match on Tuesday and even a win in that match does not ensure a semifinal berth for Bangladesh.