KATHMANDU, Sept 22: Nepal crashed out of ongoing AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers after humiliating 11-1 defeat by Myanmar in the second group E match played at Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu on Friday. Nepal had already lost 4-0 to the Philippines in the first match of the group on Wednesday.
In a must win match to stay in the contention for the next round, Nepal was outplayed by Myanmar as Swe Aur Mang and Myat Khin led the goal-scoring rout as Nepal conceded 10 goals in the first half itself.
Myanmar was quickly off the mark as Mang scored the first of her four goals on the 4th minute. She completed her hat-trick on the 17th minute and took her tally to four with a 38th minute goal. Similarly, Khin chipped in with second hat-trick of the day from Myanmar scoring in 9th, 29th and 33rd minutes. Zhin Mar The (3rd), What Phoo Rain (30th) were the other scorers in the first half. Pont scored in 62nd minute to add more misery to Nepal’s improved second half performance.
Nepal to host AFC U-16 qualifiers
Nikita Thokar for Nepal scored the consolation goal at the 73rd minute. It was Nepal’s first goal in the tournament but not before conceding 15 goals in two games against the Philippines and Myanmar.
Earlier, Nepal fielded a playing XI of Surakshya Kumari Singh, Sajani Thokar, Khusma Rai, Shrisha Karki, Chandra Bhandari, Sabita Rana Magar, Sabina Chaudhary, Puspa Gurung, Ashmita Chaudhary, goal keeper Sabitri Kisan and skipper Preeti Rai.
Myanmar and the Philippines have made it through final round with six points from two matches. They will play each other on Sunday to determine the group winner. Nepal will play against Malaysia in a dead-rubber encounter on the same day.
A total of 30 Asian nations are taking part in the qualifiers in various host countries. The teams are divided into six groups. All groups have five teams each, except Group E, as one of its teams Syria withdrew from the tournament.
Top two teams of each group will advance into the final round of the 2019 AFC U-16 Women’s Championship.
The winner, the runner-up and the third-placed teams of the last edition of the tournament-- North Korea, South Korea and Japan respectively-- have entered directly into the final round of the
tournament.
