New-look Nepal defeated Laos 2-0 to make a flying start to their Prime Minister Three Nations Cup campaign at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Ananta Tamang and Nawayug Shrestha scored either side of half-time to help Nepal beat the visiting side inside 90 minutes for the first time in their three meetings.

Nepal had defeated Laos 3-0 on penalties in the AFC Solidarity Cup following a 2-2 draw in Kuching in November 2016. Before that, the sides had played a 1-1 draw in an international friendly football match in the Laos capital Vientiane in May the same year.

New coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese had called up six fresh bloods for the Cup and handed international debuts to young guns Sanish Shrestha, Sumit Shrestha, Dipak Raj Singh Thakuri and Mani Kumar Lama.

Sanish started for the hosts while Sumit, Thakuri and Lama came on as substitutes. Goalkeeper Abhishek Baral and defender Padam Bhattarai were benched.

Seven members of the national team who were part of Nepal’s friendly victories against Bangladesh and Pakistan last year have left for Australia seeking a better future. Five others, including Sujal Shrestha and Bimal Gharti Magar, were left out.

Nepal, backed by a huge crowd of home supporters, kept Laos under pressure from the start, while Laos rarely threatened and seemed content to sit back in their first meeting in seven years.

The hosts sent their first warning in the fifth minute when Nawayug rose to meet a cross from Ayush Ghalan but the ball was too high for the Tribhuvan Army Club captain.

Nepal’s first real chance came in the 18th minute when Ghalan exhibited an insane footwork on the left to connect with Arik Bista, who set up Pujan Uperkoti at the edge of the area but the midfielder fired wide.

But the Gorkhalis broke the deadlock in the 30th minute through a magical header from defender Tamang. The Church Boys United captain raced into the box to receive Nabin Lama’s corner and headed past Laos goalkeeper Xaysavath for his third goal for the country.

Laos’s Thanakhanty Aphixay tested goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu in a free kick from Laos captain Soukaphone Vongchiengkham with a swift response a minute later.

But the hosts put the visitors to the sword soon after the break, thanks to a clinical finish from Nawayug in the 56th minute.

Nawayug showed control and precision as he lifted the ball and sent a 35-yard volley into the back of the net. It was his eighth goal for the national team.

Laos’s best opportunity to cut the deficit came in the 66th minute when Nepal captain and goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu lost his grip on the ball allowing Bounphachan Bounkong to shoot from close range but defender Tamang was in the thick of it again to make a goal line clearance.

Ghalan missed a chance to further stretch the lead in the 72nd minute. Shrestha pounced a weak clearance by At Viengkham to set up Ghalan but the forward volleyed in haste and over the bar.

Rohit Chand then failed to score his first goal for the country when he volleyed a free kick from Mani Kumar Lama off the target.

“I only had two or three days to offer the players but it’s an important start for me and my journey as Nepal coach,” said Annese—who was taking charge of Nepal for the first time since his appointment earlier this month—after the match.

“We did very well against Laos. The players have good quality and have more potential with the ball. They are skillful and bring energy into the game…and I think it is a great deal.”

Nepal play Bhutan on March 28.

Speaking at the post-match conference, Laos coach Michael Weiss rued missed chances.

“We had two chances but we were not decisive,” he said. “But considering we arrived yesterday and had one training session, we performed very well… We are very positive to go for the next match with the full swing and hope to keep on. I hope we can reach the final.”

Laos face Bhutan on Saturday.