Nepal ends Olympic qualifier with consolation win

Published On: April 10, 2019 08:35 AM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, April 10: Nepal national women’s football team has ended its 2020 AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament campaign with a 2-1 consolation win over Indonesia in Mandalay on Tuesday. 

In the second round of the Group A match played at the Bahtoo Stadium, Nepal finished in the third place behind qualified host Myanmar and India, while Indonesia was placed at the bottom of the table.

Nepal scored a goal each in both the halves through forward Sabitra Bhandari, cutting out an equalizer from Indonesia. She completed her brace scoring in the 36th and the 89th minutes to seal the win, while Indonesia had equalized in the 47th minute. 

Head coach Hari Khadka had changed three players from the last game as keeper Anjana Thapa Magar replaced Anjila Tumbapo Subba, while defender duo Amrita Joshi and Kabita Dhimal came for Man Maya Limbu and Hira Bhujel. 

In the earlier last two group matches, Nepal suffered consecutive 3-1 losses to India and Myanmar and got knocked out of the tournament before playing against Indonesia. 

In the other game played on the same day, Myanmar and India played a staggering 3-3 draw and finished on the same points on seven each. Myanmar with a goal difference of +8 finished above India with a goal difference of +4, to the third round. India also went out of the tournament as only one team reached the third round finishing top. 

Myanmar reached the next round having defeated Nepal 3-1 in its first match and smashing Indonesia 6-0. It played a 3-3 draw against India to seal the top place. 

Earlier, Nepal had entered the second round with three back to back 1-1 draws against the host Myanmar, India and Bangladesh back in early November. 


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