Bimal Gharti Magar scored a brace as Nepal advanced to the second SAFF U-16 Championship semi-finals with a comprehensive 3-0 win over defending champions Pakistan here today. At the Nepali Army Sports Complex in Lagankhel, Afghanistan rallied for a 3-1 win over Bhutan to join the home side into the last four. Nasar Ahmed Nekzad (63 and injury time) scored a double, while Atiqulallah Waziri (27) netted one for Afghanistan after Tenzin Shezang had provided Bhutan a 19th minute lead. Following the results, Nepal finished as Group ‘A’ winners with seven points, while Afghanistan ended up second with four points. Pakistan (two) and Bhutan (one) crashed out of the tournament. Nepal will now take on Group ‘B’ runners-up to be decided on Thursday. Nepal put the holders under pressure throughout the match creating scoring chances at regular intervals. The home team made the most of the slippery ground, caused by the rain, to outshine the defending champions. “Today’s game shows that these boys’ can adjust themselves under adverse conditions. The regular scoring in the tournament also shows this team has good finishers,” said Nepal coach Bal Gopal Maharjan. “It was a much improved performance, both technically and tactically,” said the coach, who believed it was the best team effort so far in the tournament. Skipper Hemant Thapa Magar said they found really hard to adjust to the slippery pitch in the beginning but came to terms as the match wore on. Nepal came close to scoring early in the 11th minute only for the Pakistani goalkeeper Mohammed Shoaib to get hold of a powerful 25-yard strike from Anjan Bista. But two minutes later Sujan Limbu Ingnam headed home when Shoaib fumbled a left flank cross from Hemant. Nepal custodian Roman Rasaili, who was barely troubled in the match, helped preserve Nepal’s lead making a diving save to deny Adnan Ashraf’s low freekick from 25 yards in the 21st minute. Nepal should have doubled the lead in the 55th minute but unmarked Anjan headed Sujan’s cross agonising wide. The home team deservedly doubled the tally when Bimal scored in the 65th minute on a solo effort. After sprinting a long way with the ball, the forward fired in at the far post beyond the reach of diving Pakistani goalie Shoaib. The forward, who made his senior side debut during a friendly against Bangladesh here on September 20, sealed the match tapping in a flicked header from Anjan followed a corner kick from Hemant in the 73rd minute. Bimal leads the highest scorer’s list with five goals in the tournament. Pakistan coach Sajjad Mahmood said goalless draw against Afghanistan and Bhutan cost them dear. He blamed the inefficient finishing from his forwards to the early exit. He also party blamed the slippery pitch for their poor game today. “Unlike the home team, we are not accustomed to play under such condition,” added the Pakistan coach.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:05:14 +0000
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