KATHMANDU, JANUARY 29

Bimal Gharti Magar scored the solitary goal as Nepal defeated Mauritius in the first of the two international friendly matches here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

After a goalless first half, Gharti Magar found the back of the nets in the 55th minute to score in ninth international goal in his first match for the national team after making a comeback from injury. The goal was also first in four years for Gharti Magar, who had last scored in the 2018 SAFF Championship.

Striker Anjan Bista capitalised on poor defending from Mauritius defenders and snatched the ball before releasing it to Gharti Magar, who beat the offside trap and shot past goalkeeper Kevin Jean-Louis as the ball hit the post and entered the goal igniting wild celebration at the stadium.

Earlier, Suman Lama's free kick from 30 yards out went inches wide off the post in the 31st minute as the home team missed a chance to take the lead, while Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu denied Mauritius midfielder Adrien Francois in one-on-one situation five minutes later. Anjan Bista wasted a chance in the 45th minute as he shot wide off the second bar.

Mauritius almost took the lead moments after the restart but Fernando Jackson hit the post. Anjan Bista was then denied by the woodwork twice in the space of two minutes. Bista headed against the cross bar following a free kick from Jagajeet Shrestha in the 75th minute, while his attempt rebounded to play off the bar and Mauritius goalkeeper Kevin Jean-Louis saved Jagajeet Shrestha's strike in rebound.

Neal head coach Abdullah Almutairi - who has announced separate teams for two friendly matches - handed national team debuts to midfielders Sudip Gurung and Akash Budha Magar from the match. Gurung came in place of Suraj Jeu Thakuri in the 85th minute Budha Magar replaced Tej Tamang in the first minute of the injury time. Nepal and Mauritius played their first-ever international match and they will meet again on Tuesday at the same venue. Mauritius are at the 172nd position in FIFA ranking, while Nepal are three places above the African side.

A version of this article appears in the print on January 30, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.