The first victory for Nepal´s Polish coach Jack Stefanowski also saw the first international hat-trick for the home team against the non-ranked NMI making its debut in the official AFC tournament. [break]
The 7-0 win against Bhutan in 1999 during the Eighth South Asian Games was the biggest margin win for Nepal. Nepal´s last biggest win had come two years ago during the World Cup Qualifiers against East Timor.
Bharat Khawas after scoring goal. (Republica)
With his hat-trick on Saturday, Khawas also took his international goals tally to seven. Earlier, Ganesh Thapa, Naresh Joshi and Nirajan Rayamajhi had scored international hat-tricks for Nepal.
Along with Khawas, Sandeep Rai, regular defender of the national team who was assigned the role of attacking midfielder, forward Santosh Sahukhala and Raju Tamang were also on target for the home team backed by the crowd at the Dasharath Stadium. It was the third goal for Rai and Sahukhala and second for Tamang.
Khawas expressed happiness for the first international hat-trick on home ground. "I made history and I thank all teammates and supporters for this," said the 22-year-old.
"Though I had not expected the feat I was optimistic about scoring. We still have vital matches to play and we should concentrate. We hope to score and win other matches as well."
In the one-sided affair, forward Jagjeet Shrestha was in form, assisting in two goals and creating penalty. Nepal opened the scoring in the 4th minute through Khawas who hit a free header from the six-yard box.
Forward Santosh Sahukhala doubled the tally for Nepal during the half-hour mark. Sahukhala, left free in the area, made an unstoppable header again in a cross from Shrestha.
Khawas gave Nepal 3-0 lead before the interval when he made a powerful tapping to convert a low ball cross from defender Rabin Shrestha.
Midfielder Raju Tamang scored the fourth goal through spotkick awarded to the home side after Jagjeet Shrestha was brought down in the danger zone by Lucas Paul Knecht.
Sandeep Rai scored another eight minutes later with a cool finish from the arch of the area in a short pass set by Nirajan Khadka, who replaced Bhola Silwal in the 56th minute. Khawas sealed the victory in the 71st minute completing his first ever hat-trick. Khawas scored from the crowded area in a pass from skipper Sagar Thapa.
NMI never posed any threat to the Nepali team and its custodian Kiran Chemjong who faced only one attempt on goal.
"The match was not about how NMI played but all about Nepal," said Nepal´s coach Stefanowski with a glimpse of satisfaction on his face. It was Stefanowski´s first victory in three matches after identical 1-0 defeat at the hands of Pakistan in international friendlies a couple of weeks ago.
"The boys played well and I am happy with their improvements in the field. We need to improve, create more chances and score."
Stafenowski´s counterpart Koo Luam Khen was full of praise for the Nepali team and opined that his side learned a lesson from the match. "It is our first match in a big tournament and players learnt a lesson."
"We have young players and some members of the squad started to play football just 20 months ago," said Khen, adding, "The defeat does not mean we will give up easily in the remaining matches."
Khen termed Nepal as a solid team with fast and skilful players.
Palestine beats Bangladesh
In the day´s early kick-off, group favorite Palestine toiled hard to beat a spirited Bangladesh 1-0. Defender Haytham S M Theeb scored the all-important goal for Palestine in the 78th minute in an evenly contested match.
Theeb scored from a crowded six-yard box in a freekick taken from the corner area.
Palestine created as many as three dangerous attempts. Palestine tested Bangladesh custodian Md Sahidul Alam in the fifth minute when he punched Husam I M Abusalah freekick from the left flank to safety. In the 77th minute, Alam made a full-stretch dive to prevent a quick shot from Abusalah taken from the edge of the area.
Bangladesh also squandered a scoring chance in the 18th minute when Meshu chipped above the bar in a one-on-one with custodian Abuhammad after intercepting a back pass to the custodian by Khaled A K Mahdi.
Bangladesh´s Dutch coach Lodewijk Darius De Kruif said that his side conceded the goal due to defensive error. "For the last 30 minute the players lost concentration in defense," Kruif said, adding that the opponent also had physical advantage. The Dutch coach was, however, optimistic of his side´s qualification for the finals.
Palestine coach Jamal Mahmoud said he was happy with the result while admitting that luck had also played a part in his side´s victory. He also blamed the referee for not awarding penalty in the first half. "We missed four chances after the interval and none of the players performed as expected," said Mahmoud.
Related story
Khawas treble seals commanding Army win
