Defending champions Nepal opened their Bangabandhu Gold Cup football tournament campaign with a 2-0 defeat with Tajikistan at the Sylhet District Stadium in Bangladesh on Tuesday.

A first half spot kick and a header in the second half sealed victory for Tajikistan. Nepal will take on Palestine in the three-team Group ‘A’ on October 6. The group winners and the runners up advance to the semi-finals. Nepal, who had confirmed participation only on September 23, started with defensive mentality and sustained constant pressure. Nepal deployed just a single strike in Bimal Gharti Magar.

The real chance for Nepal came in the fourth minute when Ananta Tamang headed Sunil Bal’s corner inches wide from the area. In the 17th minute skipper and central defender Biraj Maharjan sustained injured and was replaced by Suman Aryal. Tajikistan then tested Nepali goalkeeper Bikash Kuthu in the 20th minute as Axtam Nazarov forced the custodian for a diving save.  Kuthu was guarding the post in the absence of first choice goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong, who was ignored for the tournament due to his club commitment for TC Sports Club in Maldives.

Tajikistan made the breakthrough in the 27th minute scoring from the penalty spot. Chinese referee Yinhao Shen awarded the spot kick after defender Ananta Tamang tripped Dzaxongir Ergasev inside the area. Skipper Fatxullo Fatxulloev stepped in to dully convert the penalty. Nepal came close to level the scores in the first half stoppage time only to see midfielder Sujal Shrestha’s shot tame shot foiled by Tajikistan goalie Rustam Rizoev.

Tajikistan doubled their advantage in the 69th minute through Komron Tursunov. Tursunov was allowed a free header from the six-yard box following a Fatxulloev cross. With two goals down, Nepal pressed forward but failed to create any meaningful opportunities. It was the third defeat for Nepal against Tajikistan since losing home and away during the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier in 2017. Nepal had lost 2-1 at the ANFA Complex in September before going down 3-0 away in Hishor in November.