KATHMANDU: Nepali youth team began the SAFF U-15 Girls’ Championship campaign with a 4-0 victory over Pakistan at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimpu on Saturday.

Sabita Rana Magar scored a brace, while Anushka Sherpa and Rajani Thokar netted one each for Nepal, who were out of the competition from the first round in the previous edition. The victory was enough for Nepal to make it to the semi-finals from the three-team Group B along with Bangladesh, who had hammered Pakistan 14-0 in their opening match two days ago.

The second straight loss meant Pakistan were out of the race. The match between Nepal and Bangladesh on Monday will decide the group winners. Sherpa put Nepal ahead in the eight minute before Rana Magar doubled the tally six minutes later. After the break, Nepal slammed home two more goals to register a convincing victory.

Rana Magar scored her second goal of the match in the 56th minute and Thokar made it 4-0 three minutes later. India and Bhutan have made it to the semi-finals from Group A at the expense of Sri Lanka.