Skipper Bimal Gharti Magar completed a hat-trick as Nepal began their Saff U-19 Championship with what coach Bal Gopal Maharjan termed as an unimpressive 3-1 victory over minnows Bhutan here at the Anfa Complex on Thursday.

Gharti Magar, who is currently undergoing training-cum-trial with the youth squad of Belgium top-tier outfits Club Brugge, set himself apart from rest of his teammates with a dominant display. Gharti Magar opened the scoring in the 10th minute only for Bhutan to level a minute later. The Nepal skipper doubled the lead on the half an hour mark before a splendid low volley in the 60th minute sealed the victory.

The victory put Nepal on track for the semi-finals with Bangladesh awaiting them next their last Group ‘A’ match on Monday.

Nepal’s first goal came in a counter attack when Gharti Magar took the ball from centre after a freekick from Bhutan rebounded off the Nepali wall. Gharti Magar dodged two defenders before firing home from inside the area. Bhutan levelled through Sonam Togbay, the defender’s powerful shot from outside the area taking a deflection from Ananta Tamang before kissing the back of the net. The goal was the only notable move Bhutan came up with as Nepal took control of the game thereafter.

The hosts were gifted the second goal in the 30th minute when a weak shot from Gharti Magar rolled underneath the arms of Togbay. Gharti Magar completed his hat-trick with the goal of the day. Running down the edge of the area, the forward made a perfect contact to a pass from Aakash Thapa before firing a low volley leaving Tobgay hardly any time to react. Nepal earned a penalty in the 74th minute after Tobgay tripped Shrestha in one-versus-one encounter.

Gharti Magar stepped in to take the penalty but shot wide. Nepal’s most of the passes were supplied to Gharti Magar who missed three other goal-scoring chances. The team’s heavy reliance on Gharti Magar was a major concern for Maharjan.

“Our game is too much dependant on Bimal and I want others to come forward and go in level with him,” said Maharjan lashing out on his boys’ selfish game. Gharti Magar had a mixed feeling. “I scored a treble but I also have a bitter feeling after failing to convert the spot kick,” said Gharti Magar. “In the match today we were unable to come up with our true colours despite playing together for quite a few years. We were not what we actually are. There are a lot of areas for us to improve on,” added the striker, who lately has become a key member of the senior national team.

Bhutan coach Nawang Dhendup was dejected by his team’s display. “My boys defended too deeply, the reason why we kept conceding goals. The Nepali players were too quick and we were outplayed in terms of their speed,” said Dhendup.