The second day of the South Asian Games ended on a dismal note as Nepal’s men’s football team went down against host Bangladesh 3-0 at Bangabandhu National Stadium on Saturday evening.
This is the fifth defeat for Nepal at the hands of Bangladesh in the SAG. Nepal and Bangladesh have faced each other eight times at SAG. Nepal has won twice and played draw in one occasion.
With a loss in the men's football category, Nepal ended the second day of the 11th SAG with defeats in all of the sporting events it had participated in. Earlier in the day, Nepal's hockey and squash players suffered defeats at the hands of India and Bangladesh respectively.
Bangladesh’s Md. Manum Ul Islam scored the first goal in the first seven minutes of the football match. Atiqur Rahaman Meshu doubled the lead in the 87th minute while Mithun Chaudhary scored the final goal in the second-half’s injury time.
Nepali defender Biraj Maharjan committed a lapse helping Islam to hammer a close range shot, which Nepali keeper Bikash Malla was unable to fend off.
Nepal’s Chetan Ghimire tried to equalize the game in the 15th minute but his header was ward off by the host keeper. Two minutes later keeper Malla made a beautiful defended Md. Zahid Hasan Amely attempt to score.
Anil Gurung failed to put through a pinpoint ball to Yogesh Shrestha in the 27th minute. Gurung's 40th minute header was also unsuccessful.
During the break, the host team had led the visitors 1-0. Bangladesh also made several close calls during the second half but the players failed to convert. Nepali strikers in penalty area were also able to covert the curled free-kick of substitute Laxman Ruchal in the 29th minute of the second half.
Meshu doubled the lead through a header from a corner while Chowdhary scored the third goal when custodian Malla was too far out of his post in a counter attack.
Nepal will play next match against Maldives on Monday. On Saturday, India lost to Afghanistan 1-0 and Sri Lanka defeated defending champions Pakistan with the same margin in the city of Chittagong. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are in the same group (B), while Nepal is together with Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh in Group A.
Maldives win: In Saturday's Group A match, Assaf Ali scored the decider for the Maldives against Bhutan to register its win.
Bhutan had given tough fight to Maldives throughout the match. Assaf's 83rd minute goal scored from near the goalpost handed the island nation much needed three points in group A. Maldives could have doubled the lead, but Nasser Mukhtar missed penalty in the 86th minute.