Kathmandu, October 28:

Nepal lost 0-2 against Oman during their return leg match of the Asian zone 2010 World Cup qualifier here at the Dasharath Stadium today.

After losing their away match with the identical score on October 8, Nepal required to defeat Oman by at least three-goal margin to make it to the initial phase to the qualifiers. With the loss, Nepal have crashed out from the play-offs. Mohammed Hasem Saleh and Mohammed Al Hinai scored a goal each.

Nepal could not capitalise the advantage of home support making only two threatening moves against the sides that are 105th place ahead in the latest FIFA rankings. Midfielder Pradeep Maharjan wasted an easy goal scoring opportunity early in the ninth minute when Nepali skipper Rakesh Shrestha provided him a long pass inside the box. Maharjan could not even strike the ball in a solitary encounter with Oman goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

Saleh put the visiting side ahead on a rebound in the 29th minute with Nepali goalkeeper Ritesh Thapa still lying on the ground while blocking the initial Omani strike. Lok Bandhu Gurung had a shot on goal in the 35th minute but could not beat Al Habsi, a lanky goalkeeper who plays for the English Premiership team Bolton Wanderers.

Al Hinai doubled the tally scoring from a close range following a left wing cross. The margin would have been even wider had not Nepali goalie Thapa denied a powerful strike from Fawzi Bait Doorbeen in the 72nd. Substitute Santosh Sahukhala, who made his senior national team debut, had the second best chance for the hosts in the first minute of the injury only to head high a floating cross from Sagar Khadka.

Oman’s coach Gabriel Calderon said that the match turned out to be a rather difficult ones. “The ground condition also contributed to our difficulties,” said Calderon, who played for Argentina in the 1982 and 1990 FIFA World Cup. Calderon also praised the Nepal’s fair play.

“We played well and the players really worked hard,” said Nepal’s coach Shyam Thapa, who stepped down as the senior national team coach today. But, Thapa said that he would continue working with the Nepali players. “Nepal should be ready to spend money in hiring better foreign coach if they want to achieve greater heights in football,” added Thapa at the post-match press conference.