Sports
Vietnam dent Nepal’s hopes of advancing
Nepal suffered a huge blow in their bid to enter round-of-16 after losing their second game 2-0 against Vietnam during the Asian Games men’s football tournament at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Cikarang, Indonesia, on Thursday.Nepal suffered a huge blow in their bid to enter round-of-16 after losing their second game 2-0 against Vietnam during the Asian Games men’s football tournament at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in Cikarang, Indonesia, on Thursday.
Nepal had opened their the U-23 football campaign with a morale-boosting narrow 1-0 defeat against the 2010 champions Japan on Tuesday. The second successive defeat also meant Nepal are still searching first point, let alone victory, in the Asiad. Nepal have never ever passed the group stage in five editions they participated in so far. Including the two defeats this week, Nepal have conceded a annoying 68 goals in 17 matches played so far in the Asiad. Nepal have scored just one goal, which they struck their 3-1 defeat against Kuwait during the 1982 Games.
On Thursday, Vietnam scored a goal in each half to register their second consecutive victory confirming their place in the round-of-16 berth. Japan also joined Vietnam in the knockout stage. Anh Duc Nugyen made the breakthrough with a precise header from zone in the 31st minute. Duc van Phan ensured the victory in the 64th when he slotted a low ball past goalie Kiran Chemjong.
In their last meetings during the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Incheon in 2003, the two team clashed twice with Vietnam emerging 5-0 and 2-0 winners on both the occasions. But as the Asiad is basically a U-23 tournament which allows each team only three over-aged players unlike Asian Cup, which is a senior team tournament. Nepal have added goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong, midfielder Bishal Rai and defender Rohit Chand to their squad under over-aged quota.
The outcome of the third match between Japan and Vietnam will determine the group winners. Nepal can still fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout stages provided they beat Pakistan on Sunday and hope other results go their way. Apart from group winners and runners-up from six pools, four best third-placed teams also advance to round-of—16 and Nepal still harbour hopes of grabbing one of those berths.