KATHMANDU, Sept 20: With a 4-0 defeat to the Philippines in the first match of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers on Wednesday, Nepal U-16 women’s team is under pressure to win its remaining two group games in order to qualify for the next round. 

In the match played at Armed Police Force’s Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal was defeated with a big margin as the Philippines dominated Nepal throughout the Group E match.

In the win, the Philippines’ captain Maria Lazo scored a brace, while Keanne Alamo and Mikaela Villacin bagged a goal each. 

Nepal got early chances to score in the match but failed to capitalize it into goals. Sabita Rana Magar’s freekick in the 12th minute was saved by the away team goalkeeper Odeja Marie Tharp, while soon after that, Ashmita Chaudhary’s shot went just wide of the post.

Nepal then failed to perform well in the match and could not create any good chances in the match. Lazo gave the Philippines a lead with two minutes remaining at the end of the first half. Jinna Kate Simons passed to Lazo after getting the ball after a poor clearance from Nepal, and she scored to give the Philippines a late first-half lead.

In the first half extra time, Jinna passed to Lazo and the captain shot the ball into the back of the Nepali net to double to lead for the visiting team. 

Even though Nepal presented an improved performance in the second half, Nepal could not retain the possession. Alamo scored in the 75th minute to give the Philippines a 3-0 lead and Villacin guaranteed the win scoring 10 minutes after that. 

Nepal created some chances late in the game, but could not score any. 

Now, Nepal needs to defeat Malaysia and Myanmar in order to reach the next round. 

In the other match played on the same day at the same stadium, Malaysia succumbed to a 3-0 defeat as it could not stay solid at the back in the late stages against Myanmar.

Myat Noe Khin scored a hattrick for the winning team scoring in the 75th, the 87th and the 89th minute to give Myanmar the win.

Nepal will now take on Myanmar on Friday, while the Philippines will play against Malaysia on the same day. 

In the last Group E round of the qualifiers, Nepal will face Malaysia on Sunday, while the Philippines will lock horns with Myanmar 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.

 
• AFC_U-16_Women’s_Championship_Qualifiers
 
• Nepal_U-16_women’s_team
 
• Halchowk_Stadium