KATHMANDU, Aug 17: The Nepal football team, who went to Indonesia in an aim to at least reach the second round of the Asian Games, has suffered back-to-back losses, this time at the hands of Vietnam 2-0 in men’s football on Thursday. 

The chance of Nepal’s crashing out of the tournament has increased after the second consecutive loss in the tournament. 

Vietnam is on the top of the Group D with six points, while Nepal is third as Pakistan has conceded more goals than Nepal. Nepal had lost the first match 1-0 against Japan. 

Japan has six points as well and looks strong to reach the next round as it defeated Pakistan 4-0 on the same day.

The top two teams of each six groups in the tournament will automatically reach the round of 16, while the four best third-ranked teams will also qualify to the stage. 

So, Nepal has still got a chance of getting to the last 16 if it beats Pakistan in third group match.

Nepal just had a slimmer 24 percent possession in the first half and Vietnam took the lead in the 31st minute through Nguyen Anh Duc. 

Nepal, who conceded in the first half, brought Abhishek Rijal in the place of Hemant Gurung in the 42nd minute. 

Nepal, who had changed just one player from the Japan game, had conceded the first goal against Vietnam in the 31st minute. 

Nepal’s Japanese head coach Gyotoku Koji fielded Hemant Thapa Magar in the place of Tej Tamang. 

But, Nepal could not improve its performance despite the presence of Magar. 

Despite showing some improvements in the second period of the match, Nepal could not score the equalizer. Vietnam scored in the 64th minute through Phan van Duc. 

Nepal will take on Pakistan in the last group stage match on Saturday, as Vietnam and Japan go head-to-head for the top spot of the group.

 
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