KATHMANDU: Nepal's hope of qualifying to the next round of AFC Asian Cup 2019 hinge on thread as they slumped to 2-1 home defeat against Tajikistan, on Tuesday. The host failed to build on June's goalless draw at home to Yemen and suffered a jaw breaking defeat to physically superior side of Tajikistan, in a crucial encounter today. READ ALSO:

• Nepal held to goalless draw by Yemen
• 10-man Nepal go down to Philippines 4-1

The visiting team Tajikistan broke the deadlock on 25th minute, after a corner kick was smartly headed home by Dzhalilov Manuchehr, giving no chance to the defender and the goalkeeper. Kiran Chemjong failed to gather a pile driver and gifted Vasiev Dilshod a simple tap-in to double their lead in the half-hour mark. Chemjong made a howler, failing to save an angled shot across the face of the goal from Jahongir Aliev. Nepal failed to gain momentum as Tajikistan put them under pressure from the word go. Nepal's head coach Koji Gyotaku substituted Nawayug Shrestha in the 40th minute, bringing in striker Bimal Gharti Magar, to add more impetus in attacking play. Trailing by two goals, Nepal improved their performance in the second half and put the visiting team under tremendous pressure, however, their killer pass in the third half of field was porous. After the introduction of Bikram Lama in the 57th minute of the game, Lama threaded one-two pass with Anjan Bista, who played in a through ball to Bimal Gharti Magar. Bimal Gharti Magar made no mistake and scored a sublime goal over advancing goalkeeper Abduaziz Mahkamov on the hour mark to reduce the arrears. Tajikistan could have added their third goal in the 68th minute, however, striker diverted his tap-in just wide of far post, after a cut back from the right side of the post, in an lightening counter attack. Kamal Shrestha tried his luck from distance in the dying minutes of the game, however, his 35-yard strike looked like nestling in the far corner, but Tajikistan goalkeeper made a spectacular save to keep his team in the game. Nepal poured men forward, but to no avail, as they failed to penetrate Tajikistan rearguard who thwarted every Nepali moves with ease. In overall, goal-shy Nepal mustered only two attempts in Tajikistan post, with today's result, Nepal languishes at the bottom of the table with a solitary point. After, today's game Nepal chance look slimmer of making it to the play-off. Nepal will travel to Tajikistan for an away game at Dushanbe on October 10, 2017. Nepal will host the Philippines at the Halchowk Stadium on November 14, 2017. Earlier, the Ajkals had defeated Nepal 4-1 in Manila on March 28. Nepal will travel to Doha to face Yemen for the final qualifying game of the campaign on March 27, 2018. Earlier, they were held to a 1-1 draw by war-torn nation Yemen at the Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu. The United Arab Emirates is hosting the AFC 2019 Asia Cup. As of FIFA World Ranking, Nepal rank 169th to Tajikistan 154 positions.