Substitute goalkeeper Rana Magar saves two penalties to seal victory
KATHMANDU, JULY 16
Substitute goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar saved two penalties as Nepal women's national football team defeated Bangladesh 4-2 in tie breaker in the second and final international friendly match at the BSSSMK Stadium in Kamalapur, Dhaka today.
The two-match series winners were decided on penalties after both the teams failed to score in regulation period in the second match. They had salvaged a 1-1 draw in the first match last week, thanks to injury time equaliser by striker Sa-bitra Bhandari.
Rana Magar, who replaced regular goalkeeper and skipper Anjila Tumbapo Subba in the 90th minute, saved shots from Bangladesh's Sgeuli Azim and Maria Manda.
Rana Magar missed her kick but Sabitra Bhandari, Hira Bhujel, Dipa Shahi and Anita KC converted their kicks for Nepal. Shamsunnahar and Monika Chakma scored for the home team.
Nepal head coach Ananta Thapa lauded the girls for putting up a strong show against the home team.
"Bangladesh are no doubt a better side and they were up against us on their backyard.
I am satisfied that our players did not lose patience despite conceding a goal in the first match and they bounced back for a draw with a goal in the injury time," he said.
"We put up an improved show in the second match.
As these two matches were also part of preparation for the 19th Asian Games, we tried maximum players.
We are taking home a lot of good experiences from the friendly series," he added.
"Bangladesh are SAFF champions and winning against them shows our potential for the next editions," added the former national team midfielder.
A version of this article appears in the print on July 17, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
