Kathmandu, April 8

Nepal faced a 2-0 defeat in the return leg match of the Asian Qualifiers for the Women's Olympic Football Tournament here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

Vietnam, who had registered a 5-1 victory in their away match on Wednesday, won 7-1 in aggregate. The Group B consisted of only two teams after Afghanistan and Palestine pulled out of the tournament and Nepal and Vietnam were made to play two matches on home and away basis.

Nepal needed a miracle to overturn the first-leg results and advance to the second round. But Nepal were twodown within the first seven minutes after they conceded twice in the space of one minute, thanks to poor goalkeeping from skipper Anjila Tumbapo Subba and lack of attention from defenders.

Pham Hai Yen scored both goals for Vietnam, who took the lead in the sixth minute.

Pham Hai Yen found the back of the nets from a crowded penalty box following a corner from Nguyen Thi My Anh, Neither Nepali defenders could clear the ball controlled down by Anh, nor goalkeeper Subba judge it as it rolled into the goal.

Nepal conceded another goal a minute later, again due to the defensive lapse. Nepali defenders failed to clear the ball and Tran Thi Thu Thao made a sublime cross towards the penalty box.

Ahn met the ball despite being surrounded by three Nepali defenders and she shot over advancing goalkeeper Subba.

Nepal came close to reducing the deficit in the 39th minute when Saru Limbu released a through pass to Sabitra Bhandari, who rounded up a defender before shooting towards the goal with a left footed shot but Vietnam goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang denied her with a diving save.

Nepal head coach Ananta Raj Thapa brought in goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar in place of Subba and Amrita Jaisi was handed the arm band in the second half. The Nepali team displayed much improved show after the break although they failed to find the back of the nets. Nepal's Dipa Shahi was unlucky in 67th minute after her shot from inside the box rebounded to play off the post.

Coach Thapa said the team was morally down after conceding two early goals.

'The team took its time to regroup after the first goals and we were able to end the match on positive note with an improved performance in the second half,' said Thapa.

'We were playing against a team that has qualified for the World Cup and playing two matches against Vietnam in itself was an achievement for us,' he added.

Thapa said he was satisfied with the progress of the team. 'After I took over the team, we played two friendly matches against India drawing both of them. We improved in ranking after the India matches and we got to play two matches against Vietnam.

These girls need international exposure and we need to continue playing against stronger sides which will ultimately help women's football,' said the former national team midfielder.

Skipper Subba said she was disappointed with the overall performance of the team. 'I really felt disappointed as we conceded goals due to lack of coordination with the defenders,' she said. 'But I am satisfied with the team's performance in the second half.'

A version of this article appears in the print on April 9, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.