• Beat Bahrain 3-0 in Bangabandhu Gold Cup final

Kathmandu, January 22

Nepal defeated Bahrain U-23 team 3-0 in the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Football Tournament final today to win the first title in 23 years.

Bimal Gharti Magar, Bishal Rai and Nawayug Shrestha scored a goal each as 10-man Nepal registered a thumping victory over Bahrain, who were reduced to nine players at the end of the match, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

Nepal national football team last won the title in the South Asian Federation Games in 1993, also at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. Nepal had then defeated India 4-3 in tie-breaker after a 2-2 draw in the regular time. Team’s goalkeeping coach Upendra Man Singh starred in that match with two brilliant saves, while Bal Gopal Maharjan — chief coach of the current team — was also the member of the gold medal winning team in 1993.

This is Nepal’s first title in a tournament that included teams from outside the South Asian region. The match against Bahrain was Nepal’s first final in 17 years since they lost to Bangladesh in the 1999 SAF Games final on home soil.

The team had left for Dhaka with an aim to make it to the semi-finals but surprised everyone when they registered a 4-1 victory over Maldives to earn a berth in the final before slamming three goals against Bahrain.

Nepal made a positive start with a 4-3-3 formation and took the lead in the fifth minute when Gharti Magar pounced on a rebound ball to score his fourth international goal. Bahrain goalkeeper Mahboob Aldoseri did well to stop Anjan Bista’s header on a cross from skipper Biraj Maharjan but he failed to clear the ball and Gharti Magar slammed home from close.

Both the teams were reduced to 10 men after Bahrain midfielder Ahmed Althuani and Nepal forward Suman Lama received red cards for a scuffle in the 82nd minute. Nepal doubled the tally in the 87th minute when Bishal Rai scored from close range following a pass from Anjan Bista, who snatched the ball from a defender and rounded him off before releasing the ball into the crowded penalty box.

Nawayug Shrestha then headed home on a sublime cross from Gharti Magar in the first minute of the five-minute injury time to ignite wild celebration in the Nepal camp and the stadium. Bahrain played the last four minutes with nine men after captain Abdulaziz Alsheikh was expelled for a foul against Nepal skipper Biraj Maharjan.

Highest scorer of the tournament, Nawayug Shrestha — who slammed the only hat-trick of the tournament against Maldives in the semi-final match — was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Bimal Gharti Magar was adjudged the man-of-the-match.

With the win, Nepal received $50,000, while Bahrain got $25,000. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the prizes to the winners.

Meanwhile, the All Nepal Football Association announced a cash reward of Rs 500,000 to each team member, while National Sports Council had announced Rs 200,000 apiece before the team left for Dhaka. ANFA will accord a heroes’ welcome to the team tomorrow afternoon at the Tribhuvan International Airport. There will also be a victory parade to Dasharath Stadium from TIA via Gaushala, Old Baneshwor, New Baneshwor, Singha Durbar, Shahid Gate, New Road, Ratnapark, and Bhadrakali.

Coach Maharjan said the players performed up to his expectations. He dedicated the trophy to Nepali people.