Nepal fights hard to beat Pakistan
Two-times SAF Games gold medallist Nepal staged recovery to hit two goals in last 13 minutes and inflicted 2-1 win over Pakistan on Tuesday.
Kaski District Football Association hosted the first international of the first-ever series between two nations at picturesque Pokhara Stadium in Central Nepal, 198 KM west of Kathmandu. The second international will be played at same venue on March 27, Thursday.
This was first time in the nation's soccer history that FIFA-recognised international was organised outside the capital city. It was one of the three clashes between two South Asian nations within four months. Both Pakistan and Nepal will also face each other in Group-A clash of SAFF Championship on June 7 at National Stadium, Male in Maldives.
Both the teams opened the proceedings in cautious style and first real attack came in the 17th minute when home team missed through Ju Manu Rai (Mahendra Police FC) who failed to capitalise on Anil Gurung's pass and Pakistan's Bradford-based keeper Iltaf Ahmed made a good save.
The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute when Islamabad-born right-winger Muhammad Qasim curled the ball across the area and Pakistani skipper Muhammad Essa tapped the ball in. Five minutes later, Ju Manu's long-range drive was saved by Iltaf. The 31st minute saw Anil himself fumbling the chance following a feeble header off Sandeep Rai's cross. Three Star FC's midfielder Pradeep Maharjan might have equalised three minutes from interval but he missed twice within few seconds. Pakistan led 1-0 at interval.
Pakistan applied defensive strategy on the order of head coach Akhtar Mohiuddin and Nepalese coaches had no option but to make four substitutions from 59th to 74th minute. Nirajan Khadka took the field in place of Bijaya Gurung and Raju Tamang was replaced by Bishan Gauchan. Sandeep Rai, Pradeep Maharjan were replaced by Santosh Sahukhala and Bharat Khawas.
The move of Nepalese coaches paid off when NIBL Friends Club's front runner Bharat Khawas landed the leveler in the 77th minute. He pounced on stray ball and his header prove too good for Iltaf after forceful drive by other substitute Santosh ended up in rebound.
The equaliser lifted the Nepalese team and they continued to build up pressure and struck the winner in the 85th minute. New Road Team FC 's striker Anil Gurung steered the ball in, capitalising onto Ju Manu 's defense-splitting pass. Nirajan had a chance to make it 3-1 but Pakistani defenders cleared the trick ball from the goal-line.
It was fifth clash between two nations on Nepal's soil, and first at Pokhara. The previous four matches were held at Tripureshwor's Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu. The first meeting between two at Dasarath took place in 1987 during two-legged Seoul Olympics qualifiers. The first match ended 2-2 while Nepal won the second leg 1-0 to wrap up the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
Pakistan caused sensational 2-0 win over Nepalese when ANFA hosted third SAFF Championship in 1997 but two years later Nepal forced revengeful 3-1 win in 8th SAF Games soccer event.
Teams:
Pakistan:
Goal-keepers : Iltaf Ahmed, Amir Qureshi, Ghulam Nabi
Defenders: Muhammad Ahmed, Samar Ishaq, Kamran Khan, Tanveer Ahmed, Jamshed Anwar, Muhammad Haji, Abbas Ali , Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Shahid
Midfielders : Shahid Ahmed, Zahid Hameed, Farooq Shah, Atiq Ullah , Muhammad Irfan, Michael Masih, Imran Hashmi
Strikers : Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Essa, Muhammad Rasool, Abdul Rehman.
Coach: Akhtar Mohiuddin
NEPAL:
Goal keepers: Bikash Malla, Ritesh Thapa, Surendra Shrestha, Kiran Chemjong
Defenders: Rakesh Shrestha CAPTAIN, Anjan KC, Bikash Singh Chhetri, Lok Bandhu Gurung, Sagar Thapa, Umesh Upreti, Biraj Maharjan, Chun Bahadur Thapa
Midfielders: Rajesh Shahi VC, Vishan Gauchan, Bijay Gurung, Pradeep Maharjan, Sandip Rai, Raju Tamang, Bishwo Bairag Samal, Nirajan Khadka
Strikers: Yugal Kishor Rai, Santosh Sahukhala, Anil Gurung, Ju Manu Rai, Ganesh Lawati, Bharat Khawas.
Coaches : Upendra Man Singh, Bal Gopal Maharjan.
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