Sports
Nepal defeat India to enter final in Bhutan
Nepal stunned pre-tournament favourites India 3-1 in penalty shootout to enter the final of the Saff U-18 Women’s Championship in Thimphu, Bhutan on Friday.Nepal stunned pre-tournament favourites India 3-1 in penalty shootout to enter the final of the Saff U-18 Women’s Championship in Thimphu, Bhutan on Friday.
The first semi-final at the Chaglimithang Stadium went to extra time after the regulation time ended in a 1-1 draw. With both teams failing to break the deadlock in the extra time, the match headed to tiebreaker where Nepal goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar starred.
Rana Magar saved two spot kicks and converted one as Nepal registered their first victory over India in women’s football after a 1-0 win during the 2014 AFC U-18 Girls’ Regional Championship semi-final match at the Dashrath Stadium three years ago.
Nepal will now take on another title contender Bangladesh in final. Bangladesh defeated hosts Bhutan 4-0 in the second semi-final match. The final will give Nepal a chance to avenge their 2-1 loss in the league stage.
Nepal took a 15th minute lead in the match through Rashmi Kumari Ghising who collected a pass from Rekha Paudel inside penalty box and rounded up the India goalkeeper to fire into the back of the net. India hit back after resumption when their skipper headed home a freekick from six yards out in the 62nd minute.
Both teams created quite a few chances after the 1-1 draw but the scorelines remained the same after the end of extra time. While Puja Rana failed to hit the target from the spot, Rana Magar, Poudel and Ghising converted their spot kicks for Nepal.