Nepal national women team will be aiming to give continuity to their dominance over the South Asian rivals Bangladesh as they bid for the final preparation match for the AFC Asia Cup 2022 Qualifiers during the second international friendly at the Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday.

Nepal and the South Asian opponents are competing in the tournament to fine-tune their preparations for the Qualifiers set to take place later this month. Nepal are placed in Group ‘F’ consisting of the Philippines and Hong Kong while Bangladesh are in Group ‘G’ comprising Jordan and Iran in the Qualifiers to take place in Uzbekistan. Only the group winners will be able to participate in the finals.

Nepal and Bangladesh have played seven matches so far. Nepal have won six and drawn one — Olympic Qualifier first round in Myanmar finished in a 1-1 draw. Nepal had edged Bangladesh 2-1 in the first friendly played at the same venue on Friday.

Both Nepal and Bangladesh coaches expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the first match, but there were more positives to draw from the outcome for visiting sides. They were successful to score their only second goal against Nepal out of seven encounters. The matches are played as part of the preparations for the AFC Asia Cup 2022 set to take place later this month.

“We lost the match because of two mistakes we committed in the first half,” Bangladesh coach Golam Robbani Choton had said in the post match conference on Thursday. “We can make note of the mistakes we made today (Thursday) and come back stronger in the next game.”

Nepal’s Australian coach Gary Phillips had also pledged to come up with better showing in the next match. “Though we played some good football, We could not play enough quality football today,” Phillips had said after his win in the first match.

Unlike in the past, Bangladesh came up with a much better show and good technical ability in the first friendly. Majority of the players of Bangladesh squad came from the age group squad and have been playing together for quite a long time. “We have a very young squad with an average age of around 18 years. They have been training together for a long time. They have good bonding and understanding,” Choton said.

Bangladesh had piled up consistent pressure in the latter stage of the second half on Thursday and the pressure was rewarded in the 83rd minute.

The Australian will give continuity to the same 4-3-3 formation in the second match as well. He is likely to retain Sabita Rana, Preeti Rai and Bimala Chaudhary. Rai and Rana, who made their debut on Thursday, lived up to expectations scoring goals for the home team in the first half.

Nepal will be playing in absence of their star forward Sabitra Bhandari, ruled out due to anterior cruciate ligament injury, for the second time since her debut in 2015 and the performance of new players will be crucial in cementing their place in the squad.

The Australian is likely to retain the same line up in defense and midfield as well. He is likely to retain Amrita Jaisi, Gita Rana, Puja Rana and Hira Bhujel as defenders while Saru Limbu, captain Renuka Nagarkote and Manjali Kumari Yonjan will be deployed in midfield. Anjila Thumpbapo Subba will take charge of the post.

Coach Phillips gave debuts to four players in the first friendly and only four players including defenders Nisha Thokar and Bimala BK, forward Rajani Thokar and third choice goalie Usha Nath are yet to play an official international match. Experienced defender Punam Jargha Magar will be out of action as she was detected with serious health problems.

The match will kick off at 17:00. It will be the only second match at Dasharath Stadium for the national women team who embarked on their international journey in 1986.