Nawayug Shrestha’s hat-trick helped Nepal secure a position in the finals of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup after trouncing Maldives 4-1 in the semi finals match played at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Tuesday. 

Nawayug opened the scoring in the 31st minute after he scored off a rebound after Bimal Gharti Magar’s shot ricocheted off the post. Bishal Rai doubled the lead in the 52nd minute. 

Nawayug stole the show as he bagged his first ever international hat trick and scored a screamer to give Nepal a three-goal-cushion in the stoppage time. 

For Maldives, Nashid Ahmed pulled one back as a consolation in the 77th minute. 

Nepal will play the final match of the tournament with Bahrain on Friday.