Kathmandu, October 6

Nepal national football team suffered to their second straight defeat as the defending champions crashed out of the group stage of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in Dhaka today.

Palestine beat Nepal 1-0 riding on the solitary goal from Khaled Salem, who headed home from close range following a cross from Abdullah in the 70th minute. Nirajan Khadka wore captain’s armband for Nepal after regular skipper Biraj Maharjan was sidelined due to injury and vice-captain Bharat Khawas was not included in the playing eleven. Nepal, who needed a 3-0 victory to make it to the semi-finals, even failed to create goal scoring opportunities and were busy stopping attacks from Palestine instead.

Nepal had faced a 2-0 defeat against Tajikistan in their previous match.