Nepal’s hopes of progressing into the second round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Paris 2024 took a nasty hit after they lost to Vietnam 5-1 in a one-sided affair at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Wednesday.

Huynh Nhu scored a brace, and Pham Hai Yen, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy and Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha hit the targets for Vietnam. Sabitra Bhandari pulled back a consolation goal for the hosts.

Nepal were playing against a side that have already secured their place in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.

The absence of Gita Rana was badly missed as Ananta Raj Thapa’s side were unable to fix a leaky defence overtaken by the young guns.

And Vietnam were not kind.

Amisha Karki missed a golden opportunity to put Nepal in front in the 9th minute. Dipa Shahi dropped a long ball in the pocket of space in the Vietnam box for Karki with only goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang standing between them, but Karki flashed over the bar to a great disbelief.

The early lead could have turned the table in Nepal’s favour in a chilly evening but Pham Hai Yen punished Nepal for the miss two minutes later.

Vietnam responded with quick attacks to put Nepali defence under constant pressure. Nepali defenders failed to clear the ball allowing Vietnam front line to wander freely inside the area. Hai Yen took full advantage of it when Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung cut inside to set up Hai Yen for an easy header.

Tuyet Dung then tested Nepal captain and goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba in the 21st minute on a rebound after Hai Yen hit the woodwork.

Karki then wasted another chance in the 34th minute when Vietnam’s Le Thi Diem My failed to clear a free kick from Amrita Jaisi allowing Karki to fire from the six yard box but her tame shot was comfortably saved by Vietnam’s Thi Hang.

And Vietnam cashed in again for another wasted opportunity from Nepal in the 36th minute through a spot kick. Samikshya Karki handled the ball inside the penalty area and captain Nhu stepped up to net her 63rd international goal for Vietnam.

Nepal’s misery continued just two minutes later when Bich Thuy’s shot deflected off Jaisi before evading Subba.

The visiting side played with the same intensity after the break as well, and forced goalie Subba a save three minutes into the second half.

Vietnam captain Nhu, who plays for Portugal women’s top division side Vilaverdense, stretched the lead moments later heading a cross from Hoang Thi Loan.

Sabitra Bhandari pulled one back for Nepal in the 79th minute with a cool and quality finish after Saru Limbu put her through.

The goal infused some life into Nepali squad but Thanh Nha killed off the game, arrowing a 35-yard scorcher over a frustrated Subba in the first minute of injury time.

Nepal now face an almost impossible task against the 33rd ranked team on April 8 when they meet again at the same venue in the second leg of the Group C matches. Nepal are ranked 100th in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking.

The Group ‘C’ was originally a four-team event but was reduced to a two-team affair after Palestine and Afghanistan withdrew from the tournament.

Only the group winners advance into the second round.