Nepal ended their 23-year wait for football gold as they rallied from a goal down to beat arch rivals India 2-1 in the final of the 12th South Asian Games at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Guwahati, India, on Monday.

Prakash Budhathoki scored one and provided for the other as Nepal secured their first major title since winning the 1993 SA Games football gold in Dhaka. Nepal had also defeated India 4-3 in a tie breaker after the final as tied at 2-2 after extra time at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Nepal suffered a setback in the 31st minute when Halicharan Narzary gave India a 1-0 lead through a penalty.

Nepal returned with a vengeance after halftime and set up their camp inside the Indian half. Their sustained pressure paid off in the 65th minute as Budhathoki levelled the scores with a well-drilled freekick from 25 yards, giving no chance to Indian goalkeeper Rehenesh TP.

India coach Lee Johnson was left shocked by Budhathoki’s stunner. “The freekick was world class. No keeper in the world could have stopped that,” Johnson said after the match. With pressure building on the Indian defence, it was just a matter of when rather than if Nepal would take a lead. And the moment came in the 72nd when in form Nawayug Shrestha slotted home from close range after getting to the end of Budhathoki’s weighted cross.

India showed urgency towards the end but Nepali defence held firm, with goalkeeper Bikesh Kuthu producing a string of good saves to deny Indian attackers.

And when the match referee blew the long whistle, celebrations of the historic victory rang out across the country with top politicians joining the party.

“Many congratulations to the football team for winning a gold in South Asian Games after 23 years. The whole country is proud of you young men!” former prime minister Baburam Bhattarai tweeted.

Nepali Congress leader Ram Sharan Mahat also posted on his twitter: “Victory over Team India on Indian soil is a great moment to make any Nepali proud! Thank u Team Nepal and congratulations!!”

The victory was even sweeter for Nepal coach Raju Kaji Shakya, who was the captain of Nepal when they last secured the SA Games football gold in Bangladesh in 1993. Another Nepali coach Balgopal Maharjan, who was also part of the victorious 1993 team, believes the back-to-back title triumphs have brought cheers on every Nepali’s face.

Maharjan recently led Nepal to Bangabandhu Gold Cup triumph, following the Saff U-19 Championship last year.

“The Nepali mass was left frustrated by earthquake and blockade. This (SA Games gold) will definitely cheer them up,” he said.

PM congratutes football team

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday congratutated the Nepali men’s football team for their feat at the 12th South Asian  Games in Guwahati, India.

“The victory in the SA Games has made all the Nepalis proud. The government will do everything to honour the team,” said PM Oli in a statement. He also congratulated all Nepali medal-winners as well as the women’s football team for making it to the final.