Nepal secured a spot in the final of the SAFF Women’s Championship after a tense semi-final match against India at the Dasharath Stadium. The match, which ended in a 1-1 draw during regulation time, was decided by a penalty shootout where Nepal triumphed 4-2.

The semi-final was filled with drama as Nepal’s star forward, Rekha Paudel, received a red card early in the second half, leaving Nepal with only ten players on the field. Paudel, who has scored seven goals in the tournament, had been the top scorer and a pivotal player for Nepal. Her exit caused a temporary halt in the game as fans voiced their disapproval. Sabitra Bhandari, another key player, stepped in to calm the crowd, appealing for their support and patience.

Earlier in the match, both teams had displayed resilience, with Nepal’s Bhandari scoring a goal immediately after the game resumed from a brief interruption. India were in the lead before Sabitra’s goal.

In the final, Nepal will face Bangladesh, who had a commanding 7-1 victory over Bhutan in the other semi-final earlier in the day.