LAHORE, March 25: Nepal’s two goals scored within eight minutes helped them come back into the match in order to edge out SAF Games champions Pakistan 2-1 in the first of the two football match series being played at the Pokhara Stadium, Nepal, on Tuesday.
The rescheduled match, held a day earlier than its designated day, Wednesday, due to unstable political conditions in the country, saw its first real attack coming in the 17th minute when the home team’s Ju Manu Rai (Mahendra Police FC), failed to capitalise on Anil Gurung’s pass which was saved well by Pakistan’s Bradford-based keeper Iltaf Ahmed.
The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute when the Islamabad-born right-winger Mohammad Qasim curled the ball across the area with Pakistan’s skipper Mohammad Essa managing to tap it in. This was followed by more missed chances by Nepal. Ju Manu, in the 31st minute and Anil and Pradeep Maharjan in the 35th minute, all missed chances to score as Pakistan led by 1-0 at interval.
After resuming play, while Pakistan applied a tight defensive strategy on orders from their head coach Akhtar Mohiuddin, the Nepal team made four quick substitutions in the 59th to 74th minute. Nirajan Khadka took the field in place of Bijaya Gurung and Raju Tamang was replaced by Bishan Gauchan.
Sandeep Rai and Pradeep Maharjan were replaced by Santosh Sahukhala and Bharat Khawas. The move paid off when NIBL Friends Club’s front-runner Bharat Khawas scored the equalizer in the 77th minute by pouncing on a stray ball. His header proved too good for Iltaf after a forceful drive by the other substitute, Santosh, ended in rebound.
The winner by the home team was struck in the 85th minute when New Road Team FC’s striker Anil Gurung steered the ball in, capitalising on 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.
Pakistan were only informed about the change in schedule on Tuesday morning by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). The second international will now be played on March 27, instead of March 28 at same venue.
ANFA has suffered a huge blow due to the unsound political situation in Nepal. It has also backed out from hosting the 4th AFC President’s Cup and the second AFC Challenge Cup group stage matches.
