Nepal earned tickets to the AFC U-16 Championship Finals on Sunday as one of the best four runners-up in the Qualifiers here at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium.

Needing just a draw to progress for the 2016 Finals, Nepal lost 3-1 to Oman in their last Group ‘B’ match to finish runner-up. While Oman qualified as pool winners, Nepal sneaked into the Finals as one of the four best runners-up. Eleven group winners and the four best runners-up joined  hosts India in the 2016 Finals. All Nepal Football Association (Anfa) president Ganesh in Kathmandu Thapa confirmed Nepal’s qualification.

The achievement comes in less than a month after Nepal lifted their first silverware in 20 years by winning the Saff U-19 Championship. Nepal beat archrivals India 5-4 in tiebreaker after a 1-1 deadlock in final in Lalitpur on August 28. “Our hard work paid off. We played well below our potential today but I am happy that we made it to the Finals,” said Nepal coach Upendra Man Singh.

Nepal, who defeated Jordan 2-1 and Kyrgyzstan 4-2 in their previous games, failed to replicate the performance of the past two matches as they hardly troubled the Oman goalkeeper. Rejin Subba’s early attempt on goal which the Oman custodian Yousuf Al Sheyadi foiled was the only notable attack from the Nepali team. The Nepali backline was kept busy with repeated Oman attack.

“Oman are definitely a very good team but we didn’t play the way we have been playing,” said Nepal coach Singh. The former Nepali international Singh said his defender also under-performed. The constant early pressure on Nepali defender finally told as Thamir Al Zaabi put Oman ahead in the 11th minute lead. Oman kept pushing for more goals but Nepal custodian Arpan Karki held firm to deny them on at least six occasions.

But the advancing Karki tripped Oman player inside the area to concede a penalty. Mohamed Khalifa Al Khamisi stepped in to convert the spot kick and doubled their tally in the 44th minute. Already struggling to contain Oman, Nepal suffered another blow when Ashok Thapa limped out and be replaced by Rajiv Lopchan. The break also did not bring any respite to the Nepali side as they resumed their game with the same defensive mode.

Substitute Prezen Tamang pulled a goal back for Nepal two minutes from time when he converted a spot kick. They were awarded the spot kick after an Oman defender handled the ball inside the area. But any remaining hopes were finally quashed as Mohammed Obaid Al-Qaidi added the third goal for Oman deep into the stoppage time.

Oman coach Ya’Qoub Al Sabahi said his side was eager to score as many goals as possible considering a late fixture between Jordan vs Kyrgyzstan. If Jordan had won all three teams, including Nepal, would have tied on six points each. Goal difference would have come into play in that situation.