Sports
Hosts Nepal take on mighty Myanmar
Nepal takes on arguably the strongest side of the pool Myanmar during their second Group ‘E’ match of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifier at the APF Ground in Halchowk, Kathmandu, on Friday.Nepal takes on arguably the strongest side of the pool Myanmar during their second Group ‘E’ match of the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship Qualifier at the APF Ground in Halchowk, Kathmandu, on Friday.
The two teams are in contrasting position considering the outcome of their first match—Nepal lost 4-0 to Philippines while Myanmar crushed Malaysia 3-0 on Wednesday. A win over Myanmar will keep alive Nepal’s qualification hopes alive while a defeat will all but end their chances to making it to the Finals. Unlike Nepal, victory will confirm Myanmar’s place in the Finals to be played next year in Thailand.
Only the top two teams in the four-team qualifying group will earn tickets to the Finals. Myanmar, who beat Philippines 7-1 and Malaysia 2-1 in the AFF Cup on May 1-13 in Indonesia and eventually finished runners up, are arguably the favourites to progress into the Finals.
Despite suffering a drubbing in the first match, Nepal still harbour hopes of qualifying and coach Ganga Gurung said her team will give its best to beat Myanmar.”We will come up with changed strategy against Myanmar,” said Gurung who also attributed that her side does not have any option other than to beat Myanmar to keep intact their hopes for next rounds. “We will play for win in order to chase our dream of making it to the Finals. If everyone play to their full potential it is not impossible to beat them,” she said.
Myanmar will also be looking to confirm their place in the final with a match in hand and will go for a win against the hosts. “We have been preparing for this Qualifiers for the last five months and our aim is to qualify for the finals,” Myanmar’s head coach San San Thein had said ahead of their opening match on Tuesday.
Philippines will take on Malaysia in the early match at the same venue on Friday.