Nepal advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC U-14 Girls’ Regional Championship as Group ‘A’ winners, wrapping up their league campaign with yet another convincing victory on Wednesday.
Nepal advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC U-14 Girls’ Regional Championship as Group ‘A’ winners, wrapping up their league campaign with yet another convincing victory on Wednesday.
Having already beaten Iran 3-2 before crushing Maldives 10-0, Nepal crushed Sri Lanka 8-0 at the Dashrath Stadium on Wednesday to finish atop with nine points from three matches. Rekha Poudel, Saru Limbu and Manisha Raut scored a brace each for Nepal with Nisha Thoker and Rajju Khadka adding one each. The defending champions will now take on Group ‘B’ runners-up India in the semi-finals on Friday.
In another semi-final, also on Friday, will see Group ‘B’ winners Bangladesh taking on Group ‘A’ runners-up Iran. Bangladesh finished pool winners after a 16-0 drubbing of Bhutan put them ahead of India on goal difference, while Iran blanked Maldives 18-0.
Poudel, who had struck a hat-trick against Maldives, continued her excellent form putting Nepal ahead in the 13th minute. In a solo effort, Poudel took the ball from the centre and beat Sri Lanka goalkeeper Jayasooriya Palakodi to hit the back of the net. Raut doubled the lead in the 21st minute scoring on a rebound after Poudel’s powerful shot from six yards rebounded off the post.
Poudel once again played a role in Nepal’s third goal and Raut’s second when her back pass inside the area allowed the former to nudge home easily. Limbu then put Nepal in a comfortable position in the 29th minute scoring a spectacular long-range goal that ended the first 35 minutes 4-0.
As the Lankans were pushed to the backfoot, Nepal kept piling more pressure after the break and it was Thoker’s turn to get into the scoresheet. Thoker’s powerful shot in the 39th minute from 25 yards beat the Sri Lankan keeper. Poudel scored her second in the 45th minute utilising a pass from Limbu in a move set in counter-attack. It was Poudel’s seventh goal in the tournament.
Limbu added to the misery of the Island nation completing her brace in the 47th minute with a long-range shot and substitute Khadka completed the rout when she scored from a close range after being fed by Asha Shahi in the 65th.
Despite three consecutive victories Nepal’s coach Kishor KC was still not a happy man. “We are scoring a lot of goals and winning by big margins but the girls’ have yet to fine-tune their skills,” said KC. “They are still missing that golden touch which we will need against India, who are a formidable team.”
Sri Lanka’s Japanese coach Kei Homma praised Nepal for their comprehensive win. “We knew they (Nepal) are a strong team. We knew it was going to be a difficult match and we tried our best,” said Homma.
21.52°C Kathmandu
