In the first leg match India’s striker Sunil Chhetri scored two goals against Nepal in the second half of the game. Chhetri scored his first goal to give a 1-0 lead in the 53rd minute and added another in the 71st minute.

However, Chhetri’s penalty shot was saved by Nepali goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong in 81st minute of the match. Chhetri was declared the man of the match.

Nepal will host India in return leg on March 17.

With today’s match, Nepal and India has confronted in 16 games with India claiming victory on 12 of them. Nepal has won just two games while two games remained draw.

The last time Nepal defeated India was during SAFF championship where they took on India with 2-1 win. Anil Gurung and Jumanu Rai had scored for Nepal. However, three months after that, Nepal succumbed to India with 2-0 at a friendly match held at Siliguri, India.

The six aggregate winners will move into the second round of the Asian World Cup campaign, which doubles as the qualifiers for the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup, where the likes of regional powerhouses Japan, Australia and Iran enter the fold.

Nepal is at 180th position according to FIFA rankings, while India is ranked 171st.