KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 12
Striker Anjan Bista scored the record-equalling goal as Nepal played a 1-1 draw with Laos in the first leg match of the World Cup Qualifiers here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Bista headed home on a corner from Arik Bista in the 49th minute for 13th international goal that put him level with Nirajan Rayamajhi and Hari Khadka, Bista, who made the national team debut in 2014, levelled the record in his 60th match for the national team.
Bista's goal also cancelled out the opener from Laos skipper Bounphachan Bounkong, who put the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute in the first round match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Against the run of the play, Laos went ahead capitalising on defensive error. Chony Wenpaserth collected Ayush Ghalan's poor back pass intended to Manish Dangi and he passed the ball to his skipper Bounkong, who was quick enough to dodge Nepali defenders Ananta Tamang and Rohit Chand before slotting past goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu from inside the box.
Striker Bista was happy with the record-equalling goal but he was not satisfied with the overall performance of the team and outcome of the match. "I want to say sorry to all the supporters and fans as we could not win the match.
We did not play for a draw, instead we wanted to win the match," said Bista. "We conceded the goal because of our mistake and we could not get the desired result. But we are committed to fight till the final whistle in the second leg and go through to the second round," he added.
Bista also said he was not much concerned about the record and he was not excited with the achievement. "I don't play for records and I never through of breaking the mark.
Everyone was congratulating me for the 13th goal today, but I am not that much happy as we could not achieve the target of winning the match," he said.
The home team, who seemed lost in the middle and struggled to create dangerous moves in the first half, came as a different side after the break with Italian coach Vincenzo Annese bringing in Arik Bosta, Dinesh Henjan and Utsab Rai in place of Aashish Chaudhary, Ayush Ghalan and Awas Lamichhane respectively.
Nepal levelled the scores four minutes into the second half after Anjan Bista found the back of the nets with a header following a corner from Arik Bista. The home team took control of the match after the equaliser and they should have scored at least two more goals in the latter stage of the match but striker Bista muffed up the opportunities.
Bista failed to score on oneon-one situation with Laos goalkeeper Xaysavath in the 80th minute, while he missed the target with a header on a cross from Laken Limbu two minutes later. Laos coach Kanlaya Sysomvang was sent off in the injury time for protesting referee's decision. The two teams will now meet in Laos in the return leg match next week and the winning team will make it to the second round of the qualifiers.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 13, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
