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KATHMANDU, July 5: The Nepali national women’s football team mounted a dramatic comeback in their decisive AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifying match.
Captain Sabitra Bhandari completed her hat-trick with two goals in the span of just two minutes, helping Nepal draw 3-3 against a 10-player Uzbekistan side.
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Nepal had a rocky start, conceding two goals within the first 11 minutes, putting the team under immediate pressure. However, in the 24th minute, captain Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’ gave Nepal a glimmer of hope by scoring their first goal of the match.
Despite the momentum shift, Nepal conceded another goal in the 39th minute, as Uzbekistan extended their lead to 3-1 before halftime. The third goal posed a significant challenge for Nepal, making a second-half comeback appear even more daunting.
Toward the end of the first half, Uzbekistan was reduced to 10 players, a turning point that Nepal capitalized on in the second half. Coming out with renewed energy, Nepal took advantage of the numerical superiority and launched an aggressive offensive.
Sabitra Bhandari, leading from the front, scored two quick goals in the 71st and 73rd minutes, completing her hat-trick and bringing the match level at 3-3.
Nepal’s resilient performance and Bhandari’s heroic effort salvaged a crucial point in what was a must-win game, keeping their qualification hopes alive
