Malaysia U-23 team defeat Nepal

KATHMANDU, Oct 15: Nepali national football received another setback after it suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hand of Malaysian U-23 (Olympic) team on Saturday during a friendly match played at the MPPJ Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



Nepali national team is on a tour of four countries of ASEAN region including Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand as part of preparation for the SAFF Championship to be held from December 1-15 in New Delhi, India and the final round of AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Kathmandu in 2012.[break]



This is the second consecutive defeat of Nepal during its ASEAN tour from as many matches played. Earlier, Nepal was thrashed 4-0 by Philippines national team on Tuesday during its first match of the tour.



Nepal conceded both the goals during the last eleven minutes of the match according to football news portal goalnepal.com. Izaq Faris made a brilliant header in the 81st minute to stun Nepali goalie Kiran Chemjong whose effort to save the ball went in vain.



The home team doubled the advantage in the second minute of stoppage time when Young Kuong made a curling shot leaving goalie Chemjong helpless taking advantage poor marking by defender Biraj Maharjan.



The U-23 team of Malaysia dominated the match from the beginning and piled up immense pressure on the visitor. Malaysia intensified the attacks from the beginning and made first attack on goal in the sixth minute, but goalie Kiran Chemjong made a diving save to deny the home team.



Chemjong made some other brilliant saves as well. In the 35th minute, Chemjong denied Malaysian player Syahrul in one-on-one position.



Chemjong also made attractive saves in the 78th and 87th minutes respectively. Nepali defense line consisting of Rohit Chand, skipper Sagar Thapa, Sandip Rai, Biraj Maharjan and Deepak Bhusal also put up an impressive show and time and again denied the Malaysian strikers from scoring.



Nepal failed to make single impressive attacks on goal.



Defender Rohit Chand sustained thigh injury and was substituted in the 82nd minute. It is yet to be known whether the injury is serious one. Similarly, Bhola Silwal has a sprained wrist.



Nepal´s starting line-up



Goalkeeper: Kiran Chemjong

Defemders: Sagar Thapa, Deepak Bhusal, RohitChand, Biraj Maharjan, Sandeep Rai

Midfielder: Jagjeet Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Bhola Silwa

Forwards: Santosh Sahukhala, Anil Gurung

Related story

Batting collapse succumbs Nepal to 22-run defeat against Malays...