Following the huge margin win, Nepal, which meets India, the runner-up of group A in the semifinal on Monday, is now ahead of Bangladesh on the
basis of goals superiority.
Both Nepal and Bangladesh have equal four points but Nepal has not conceded a single goal and scored six while Bangladesh has scored six and conceded two.
Nepal and Bangladesh had shared points playing a goalless draw and Bangladesh had defeated Sri Lanka 6-2 in their group matches. Bangladesh will now take on group A winner Pakistan in the first semifinal on Monday.
"We have set the target of winning the match by at least a margin of five goals so we began with an attacking strategy," Nepal´s coach Sunil Shrestha said during the post-match conference.
Suman Lama and Rishi Thapa Magar netted a brace each while Rungri Hang Rai and Bishwas Shrestha were also on target in the match hit hard by heavy downpour from the mid of second half.
Nepal achieved the target only once in the first half while netted five goals in 25 minute of the other half. The heavy rainfall interrupted the movement of ball and balance of players, putting a brake on home team´s goal scoring momentum. Nepal scored only one goal following the rainfall.
The match was one-sided from the start to finish with the home team piling up immense pressure. It was a rare scene to see the ball moving around Nepal´s half. Unlike last match against Bangladesh, Nepali players seemed to be a disciplined lot throughout the match and justified the FIFA´s slogan of ´Fair Play.´
Despite making a couple of attacks on target, Nepal had to wait until 15th minute to open the scoring. Lama quickly slammed the ball in after Sri Lankan goalie Abdulla Mohmad Uzman dropped Bishwas Shrestha´s powerful strike from the box. In remaining time of the first half, Lama squandered two other scoring chances and Shrestha was denied by goalie Uzman with a long stretch dive.
Rai tapped in a Thapa Magar´s pass three minutes after the interval to double the scoring. Lama made it 3-0 when he unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of box in the 59th minute. Shrestha achieved the target in the 64th with a brilliant display after dribbling around three Sri Lankan players in the box and beating the goalie Uzman.
Thapa Magar scored the fifth and sixth goal in 68th and 70th minute. Thapa Magar netted his first goal from box on a pass from Umesh Thapa set by Shrestha. Thapa Magar netted the last goal out of scuffle near the goal line which entered net deflecting at Sri Lanka defenders leg.
"The wings could not utilize scoring chances and the team was not well set so we failed to score more goals in the first half," Nepal´s coach Shrestha said.
Shrestha´s counterpart Sumith Walpola lauded Nepal as one of the good football playing nations in South Asian. He also expressed dissatisfaction for not stopping the match despite heavy rainfall. "I am surprised how the match was conducted despite no movement of ball in the pitch due to stagnant water," said Walpola adding, "I appealed the match commissioner several times for stopping the match."
Walpola also termed Nepal as a strong side. He also wished Nepal well for upcoming matches. "I hope Nepal will reach final and lift the trophy," Walpola said.
Source: Republica
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