U-16 player Gharti Magar scored in the first minute of the four minute stoppage time as he marked his debut in the competitive match as a 67th minute replacement of Tanka Basnet. He tapped in the ball from crowded box in an open net in the rebounder by Pakistani custodian Yousaf Ejaz Butt, who had moved ahead to clear skipper Sagar Thapa´s long range shot. [break]
It was the second match of the 16-year old in national jersey who had marked his debut for the national team against Bangladesh friendly in September 2012.
Pakistan had taken lead in the early 13th minute stunning jam-packed home supporters. Pakistan´s Hassan Bashir made a brilliant one-touch strike from the inner edge of area in a freekick taken by Adnan Farooq Ahmed.
"The young guy made magic in the match," Pakistan´s coach Shaazad Anwar said at the post match conference referring to Gharti Magar. "Nepal had the advantage of home ground and home crowd."
Earlier, in the same group´s match, Banlgadesh and India had shared points playing 1-1 draw. The result has left chances open for all four teams of group B to progress to the semifinals after the completion of the second round match.
Nepal and India with a win and draw each have four points each while Pakistan and Bangladesh with a draw each have one point each. Nepal leads top spot on points table on the basis of goals superiority.
Nepal takes on India in its last group match while Pakistan locks horns with Bangladesh on Thursday. A draw will be sufficient for both Nepal and India to advance to the semifinals as the group winner and runner-up. But defeat of any of the team may leave its semifinal fate in limbo.
Bimal Gharti Magar of Nepal waves to the supporters after scoring a goal against Pakistan during their SAFF Championship 2013 match at the Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Bikash Karki)
Despite going down in the early moments, Nepali team backed by capacity home crowd dominated ball possession but failed in finishing on more than half a dozen occasions. The home fans kept on motivating the home team until the last moment and finally returned home with their wishes fulfilled.
"I believe supporters as extra players. The support from the home crowd was fantastic and made the players believe that they could score," Nepal´s coach Jack Stafenowski said at the post match conference.
Stefanowski opined that the fighting spirit of his players was the positive aspect of his team. "The team showed fighting spirit. Despite going down 1-0 at the interval, they continued to believe that goal will come."
In the 15th, two minutes after conceding the goal, striker Jumanu Rai wasted an equalizing chance as he failed to connect Sandip Rai´s freekick in the six yard box. In the 27th, Pakistan custodian Butt made a diving save to deny Rai´s bouncing freekick.
Pakistan nearly doubled advantage in the 40th following misunderstanding between defender cum skipper Thapa and custodian Kiran Chemjong. But Bashir shot inches above bar from the left flank into an open net.
Pakistan´s Zeshan Rehman headed twice in the 43rd and 44th to rescue the visiting side. Five minutes into the second half, Rai wasted yet other scoring chance. In the 6st, custodian Butt prevented Rohit Chand´s header from the crowded six-yard box.
Pakistan coach Anwar termed the match as extremely good and one of the best matches of the Championship. "Nepali team made continuous attacks and came up with too many crosses from the flank. We had good defenders but the young guy made magic in the last moment," Anwar said.
Group B points table
Team P W D L GF GA Pts
Nepal 2 1 1 0 3 1 4
India 2 1 1 0 2 1 4
Pakistan 2 0 1 1 1 2 1
Bangladesh 2 0 1 1 1 3 1
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