The home fans delighted by the Nepali team´s performance, however, had a scare as both Nepali strikers — Jumanu Rai and Anil Gurung — limped off the ground after ensuring Nepali victory. Gurung twisted his right ankle during a collision with Thai player Jeerasak Tijan and Rai took an elbow on his chest while setting up the second goal for Gurung and was immediately taken to hospital for further assessment.
Dipesh Shrestha
Nepal made a breakthrough in the 80th minute when a Sandip Rai ball found Anil Gurung. Gurung´s shot from the right to the first bar deceived Thai goalkeeper Kumkaew Sopa, who dived the other way, even as the Thais were appealing for a hand-ball.
"We lost the match due to the referee and it looked like a friendly match rather than a competitive international," Thai coach Kristsad Piandit fumed after the match, referring to the hand-ball. “The keeper was confused because he was expecting a whistle from the referee," Piandit added.
Dipesh Shrestha
The Thais had not recovered from the shock when Anil Gurung again found the net a minute later after some terrific work from Jumanu. Jumanu wrestled for the ball with a Thai defender on the right wing and charged into the box dodging another. He was brought down by an elbow on his chest but still set up an easy tap-in for Gurung to the relief of Lankan referee Priyanga Peiris who did not have to make a penalty decision. Jumanu could not return to the field after that and was replaced by veteran striker Nirajan Rayamajhi.
The Thai team had the better of the first half keeping the home side under pressure. The Thais created threatening chances in the 13th, 19th, 29th and 43rd minutes of the first half. Nepal had a single but an easier chance when Jumanu had a free header ahead of Thai keeper Kumkaew Sopa, who had come forward for the ball, but he fired the ball wide in the 36th minute.
Dipesh Shrestha
The first half ended with both sides searching for a goal but Nepal entered the second half with more vigor and started to attack from the onset. Anil Gurung beat the Thai goalie with a magnificent header off Bijay Gurung´s cross but could not beat the woodwork 14 minutes into the half.
Nepal created several other chances and looked set to score a goal which it eventually did through Anil Gurung in the 80th minute.
Dipesh Shrestha
Nepali captain Rakesh Shrestha attributed the second-half vigor to All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Ganesh Thapa´s half-time pep talk.
Nepal will now play Sri Lanka, which had a rest day Friday after its 4-0 hammering of Aram Bagh on Thursday, in the final less than 24 hours after the exhausting semifinal clash.