TRIVANDRUM, Dec 24: A defensive blunder in the fading moments of the match inflicted Nepal a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka during the opening match of the SAFF Championship at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Kerala India on Wednesday.
Defender Biraj Maharjan, the stand-in captain after skipper Anil Gurung was replaced by Nawayug Shrestha in the second half, was to blame for Nepal's misery. Biraj failed to chest control a cross from a Sri Lankan player inside the danger zone during counter attack as the ball rolled toward Jitendra Karki who also fumbled it. Mohamad Rifnas quickly smashed the low ball inside the post leaving goalie Kiran Chemjong stunned.
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The result not only dealt a big blow to Nepal's ambition of making into the next round but also extended the team's goal drought to 11 matches. Nepal has not netted a single goal since beating India 2-1 during the group stage of the last SAFF Championship at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu in 2013.
Earlier, Nepal started in offensive note, dominated the game and created multiple chances. Nepal came up in a 4-3-3 formation with skipper Anil Gurung spearheading Nepal's attack along with teenage strikers Bimal Gharti Magar and Anjan Bista. However, they failed to find the back of the net. Sri Lankan goalie Sujan Parera made some brilliant saves to deny Nepal.
Nepal tested Sri Lanka goalie as early as in the 12th minute. Midfielder Rohit Chand's diving header off Bimal Gharti Magar's cross was denied by goalie Perera. In the 21st minute, the goalie punched Heman Gurung's freekick. Rohit missed yet another chance four minutes before the break when his 20-yard strike sailed above the bar.
With the view to intensify attacks, Nepal's coach Patrick Aussems replaced skipper Anil Gurung with Nawayug Shrestha in the 54th minute. Jagjeet Shrestha was sent in for Bikram Lama in the 65th but the changes failed to make impact in the match.
In the 59th minute, Rohit's header was off the target. Jagjeet's scorcher in the 83rd minute sailed inches above the bar.
Nepal's Squad:
Kiran Chemjong (GK), Ranjit Dhimal, Jitendra Karki, Aditya Chaudhary, Biraj Maharjan, Heman Gurung, Bikram Lama (Jagjeet Shrestha 65th minute), Rohit Chand, Bimal Gharti Magar, Anil Gurung (C) (Nawayug Shrestha 54th minute), Anjan Bista.
