The match will determine the fate of host Nepal as only the group winner will advance to the finals of the competition. Nepal and Iraq lead the four-team group with four points each, but Iraq has superior goal difference. Iraq takes on Bahrain in the first match on Sunday.[break]
Nepal defeated Bahrain 2-0 on the opening day and Iraq thumped Turkmenistan 8-1. In their second match, Nepal and Iraq shared points following a 2-2 draw. Bahrain lies in third place with three points after defeating Turkmenistan 3-1 in its second group match.
Nepal has plus two goals while Iraq has plus seven goals. If Iraq and Nepal win their matches on Sunday, both will have seven points each. In such a situation, the group winner will be decided on the basis of goal difference. Therefore, both teams will be aiming to beat their opponents by a big margin.
If one of the two teams -- Nepal and Iraq -- wins and the other loses on Sunday, whichever team wins will advance to the finals as the group winner and the losing side will crash out.
Nepal will have the advantage of home ground and home supporters. Besides, the Nepali team´s morale is also high after coming from two goals down to earn a draw against Iraq, dubbed the strongest side in the group, on Friday.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan has had a miserable run in the tournament after suffering a huge defeat in the inaugural match.
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