Tashkent, November 8:

Nepal crashed out of the AFC Under-19 Championship Football qualifiers after losing 3-0 against Yemen, their second straight loss in the tournament, here today.

Nepal lost their first match against Jordan 2-0 while hosts Uzbekistan have assured their place in the second round with their second consecutive win today. The hosts beat Yemen in the first match and beat Jordan 3-1 today.

Yemen and Jordan both have three points with one win each and will play each other in the last Group D match meaning that one of the two teams will advance to the next round. Nepal will play against the hosts on Saturday.

Nepal played aggressively in the first 20 minutes creating several goal-scoring chances. Bharat Khawas wasted a chance when he headed high on a perfect cross from Ranjit Shrestha in the 27th minute before Chetan Ghimire squandered another opportunity in the 44th minute. Ghimire displayed a fine dribbling skills but failed to finish from close range.

Nepal was a different team after the break and conceded three goals in the space of 11 minutes. “Our weakness was that we could not capitalise on the chances,” said Nepali skipper Bikash Singh Chhetri after the match.

Second half substitute Mohammed Al Anbari put Yemen ahead following a left wing cross from Basem Al Akel in the 64th minute. Ammar Al Blaye made it 2-0 a minute later before Hosail Al Jaghi completed the rout with a 25-yard shot in the 75th minute.

Nepali coach Raju Kaji Shakya said that his team required a good striker. “Lack of confidence in the players was another setback during the match,” the former Nepali international added. The former national team captain Shakya also rued the missed opportunities.