Nepal’s head coach Yam Prasad Gurung was confident of defeating Saudi Arabia. He said so in the U20 team’s farewell at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu on July 30.

His confidence stemmed due to the inexperience of Saudi Arabia’s women’s football. While the Arabian side’s senior women’s team debuted in 2022, the U20 team was formed in 2023.

However, Nepal struggled when they faced the young team at the Thimphu-based Changlimithang Stadium in the second round of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers’ Group A.

Further, Nepal were almost restricted to a draw by Saudi Arabia.

Nepal and Saudi Arabia were goalless until the 90 minutes of regulation time were about to end. It was only with nine seconds remaining that Nepal found the back of the net and got three crucial points.

Mina Deuba was lucky to get the ball on the right flank as Saudi defenders failed to clear a long pass from Nepal’s half. Deuba then crossed the ball inside the opponent’s box.

Purnima Rai was at the centre when the ball came towards her, but with a defender ready to block, she faked the shot and left the ball for Sukriya Miya, who was free. Miya then shot the ball towards the corner and scored the only goal of the match.

It was not that Nepal did not have the chance to score before. They had a number of chances, including a penalty.

Nepal were awarded a penalty when Manisha Sen was fouled in the 36th minute. Deuba took the ball, but her penalty hit the woodwork when she attempted towards the left side of the goalkeeper.

Seeing a goalless first half with the lineup that had five fresh legs, head coach Gurung started making changes and brought in the key players. Purnima Rai and Senu Pariyar were subbed in with the start of the second half, and Sushila KC and Miya entered the ground in the 56th minute.

Saudi Arabia also created a bunch of good chances, but some were hit outside the frame, while some were saved by Nepali goalie Lila Joshi.

Nepal were on the verge of playing a consecutive draw at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers’ Group A in Thimphu, Bhutan, on Friday. But a late goal helped Nepal register their first win in the qualifier.

Nepal now have four points from two games. They had played a 1-1 draw with Bhutan, the hosts, at the duo’s first game of the tournament on August 6.

Nepal will have to defeat North Korea in their final group game on August 10 to ensure a berth in the 2026 Asian Cup. However, it will not be easy as the opponents are a two-time Asian Cup and three-time World Cup winners in the age category.

Still, Nepal, if they get a lucky result against North Korea and cement their place in the second position in the group, they can qualify as one of the three second-best placed teams in the Qualifiers.

“I am happy with my players today. The new players did great. They struggled a bit as they were playing a Gulf country for the first time,” said Gurung, after the win. “We will be focusing on counterattacks against North Korea, a team better than us.”