Nepal defeats India
Bhuwan KC
Nepal has entered into the
semi-final of the ongoing SAFF championship. Nepal defeated India 2-1 in a
match and becomes the top their group.
Nepal played aggressively right
from the start of the match, coming close to scoring in the 13th minute, when
Bhola Silwal's calculated chip shot was just saved by Indian custodian Subrat
Pal. There were a number of other close calls for both the teams.
Nepal finally
got the lead in the 63rd minute when Anil Gurung scored off a rebound. This was
Anil's second goal of the tournament.
Nepal doubled the lead in the
80th minute, when Jumanu Rai scored off a beatiful pass made by Robin Shrestha.
India reduced the deficit in the injury time with a goal from Rahim Nabi.
"Nepali team proved that it
is an excellent team from today match," Jack Stephoneski, coach of Nepal
team, appriciated. "There is no word to expresss of joyful moment because
of victory," Sagar Thapa, captain of Nepali team, added.
When match was finished,
thousands of nepali team's supporters cheering on the stadium. "It is the
history of Nepal to beat India," Bimal Rana, on of the suppoter of Nepali
team said.
This is only the third time that Nepal
has made it to the last four of the championship. This is also Nepal's third
win against India. Nepal's last victory against India had come in 2006 in AFC
challenge cup played in Dhaka. Prior to this Nepal had defeated India in the
finals of the South Asian Games in 1993 in Dhaka. Anil Gurung and Jumanu Rai
turned heroes scoring a goal each in the second half of the match.
Despite the loss, India finished
ahead of Pakistan on the basis of head to head.
Nepal will take on the loser of the match between Afganistan and
Maldives in the semi final,while the winner will clash against India in the
other semi final.
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