Nepal failed to hold on to a lead in the last few minutes of the game playing out a 1-1 draw against Malaysia U-22 in their one off friendly match here on Sunday.

Bharat Khawas, who returned to the national side recovering from an injury, put Nepal ahead in the first half. Just as it seemed Nepal were returning home with yet another victory, Anwar Arif struck for the junior team of Malaysia with three minutes left in the regulation time.

Playing their first match under new Japanese coach Gyotoku Koji, Nepal began the match with a two-pronged attack with Nawayug Shrestha and Khawas.

Sujal Shrestha, Bishali Rai, Heman Gurung and Prakash Budhathoki played in midfield. Biraj Maharjan led the defense line with Rabin Shrestha, Jitendra Karki and Kamal Shrestha, while Bikesh Kuthu made yet another first XI start with returning custodian Kiran Chemjong starting from the bench.

Kuthu was forced for a diving save early in the game as Malaysia gained upper hand in the game for the first 30 minutes. Nepal set their tone after the half hour mark and Khawas put them ahead in the 37th minute. Khawas capitalised a communication lapse between Malaysia custodian Mohammad Haziq Bin Nadzli and his defense line to score from inside the area.

Coach Koji decided to bring back Kuthu and sent Chemjong in the 67th minute and Malaysia pushed for the equaliser and got in the 87th minute through Arif.

Earlier in the 84th minute, Jagjeet Shrestha had a golden opportunity to double up Nepal’s lead, but he was denied by a beautiful figner tip save from Malaysian glovesman Nadzli.  Nepal were playing their first match after their triumphant campaigns in the 12th South Asian Games in New Delhi and Bangabandhu Gold Cup in Bangladesh.