Bhandari nets consolation goal for home team, takes personal tally to 43
Kathmandu, April 5
Nepal faced a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Vietnam in the Asian Qualifiers first round match of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
Nepal conceded three goals in the first half. Pham Hai Yen opened the scoring for the visiting side when she headed into the far corner following a cross from Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung in the 11th minute.
Vietnam doubled the tally in the 35th minute from the spot. Nepal defender Samikshya Ghimire handled the ball inside the danger zone and Huynh Nhu goal converted the resulting penalty. The tourists made it 3-0 three minutes later after Nepal defender Amrita Jaishi gifted a goal. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung passed the ball to Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy and the Vietnam midfielder released it to the centre but the ball took a deflection and entered the goal.
Vietnam made it 4-0 three minutes into the second half when skipper Nhu found the back of the nets following a cross from Hoang Thi Loan. Sabitra Bhandari cut the deficit for the home team in the 79th minute. Fed by Saru Limbu with a through ball at the edge of the box, Bhandari shot past advancing goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang. The all-time highest scorer Bhandari took her tally to 43 goals in 43 matches.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha scored a wonder goal to restore four-goal cushion for Vietnam when she found the back of the nets from 35 yards out as Nepal goalkeeper Subba failed to judge the ball.
Earlier, Vietnam came close to scoring in the eighth minute but Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung shot wide following a cross from Tran Thi Thu Thao. The home team wasted a golden opportunity a minute later when Amisha Karki shot over the bar with a volley with only goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang to beat on a sublime cross from Dipa Shahi.
In the 21st minute, Pham Hai Yen hit the cross bar and Nepal goalkeeper Anjila Tumbapo Subba saved Nguyen Thi Tuyet's header in rebound. Nepal created a chance in the 34th minute but Vietnam goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang saved Amisha Karki's right footed shot from inside the box. Sabita Rana Magar wasted a chance with a feeble attack in the 85th minute. Vietnam goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang saved Bhandari's drop header in the resulting corner from Dipa Shahi.
The two teams will meet again in return leg match on Saturday. Nepal coach Ananta Raj Thapa rued the missed opportunities. "We created a couple of chances in the first half but we failed to convert them," he said. "The momentum of the match would have been different had we scored the two early goals," Thapa added. "Overall we had an opportunity to get a learning experience against a team that is preparing for World Cup."
Nepal's striker Bhandari, who is fondly known as Samba in sports fraternity, echoed her coach's voices saying the two missed opportunities changed the complexion of the match. "We came under pressure after we missed the opportunities and conceded goals at the other end," she said. Bhandari said the priorities of two teams were different. "They are preparing for World Cup, while we have not even though of going outside South Asia," she said.
Vietnam coach Mai Duc Chung praised Nepali team's performance and lauded striker Bhandari for her efforts. "Even though we won the match, Nepal played very good," he said. "Despite the huge margin, we have some areas to improve and these are two important matches for us to prepare for the World Cup."
A version of this article appears in the print on April 6, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
