SAFF C’ship: Nepal off to flying start
KATHMANDU, SEP 01 -
Nepal kicked off their SAFF Championship campaign in style with a deserving 2-0 victory over Group A rivals Bangladesh in front of cheering home crowd at the packed Dasharath Stadium on Saturday evening.
Both the goals were scored in the opening half of the match, with Anil Gurung opening Nepal’s account in the 18th minute and Bharat Khawas doubling their advantage in the 29th minute to seal the victory.
With the win, Nepal exacted revenge on Bangladesh for the loss they had suffered in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier at home in March. This is only the second time that Nepal have made a winning start to the South Asia’s football showpiece event after their previous feat in the second edition held in Goa, India in 1999.
Nepal team head coach Jack Stefanowski hailed the team’s cleanical performance and thanked the enormous support of home fans. “Couple of factors contributed in our win. Home fans were great and we were confident enough. We are very happy that we won our first game,” the American said after the match.
Top two teams from each group will
make it to the semi-finals of the eight-team competition. Arch-rivals India and Pakistan square off in another Group A encounter on Sunday.
0 comments
Write Down Your Responses