Indian Football Fans

Nepal Sets Final Date with India

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Skipper Jamuna Gurung struck twice as Nepal defeated Bangladesh 3-0 to enter the first SAFF Women’s Championship final at the Cox’s Bazar Stadium in Bangladesh today. 

Skipper Jamuna put Nepal ahead in the 17th minute through a header from six-yard box following a cross from Anu Lama. The duo combined to score the second goal in the 72nd minute and this time Lama found the nets from inside the area. 

Jamuna then put the issue beyond doubt with her second goal of the match when she dribbled the ball all alone from centre, cut through a defender before rounding off goalkeeper slot home in an open net in the 76th minute. The victory against Bangladesh is Nepal’s second in a year after their 1-0 success during the 11th SA Games in Dhaka held from January 29 to February 9. 

With the brace, Jamuna took her goal-scoring tally to 10 in the tournament and 17 international goals overall. Jamuna had struck twice in Nepal’s 6-0 win over Maldives, while she netted four as Nepal thrashed Afghanistan 13-0. She also struck twice in their thumping 12-0 victory over Pakistan. She had scored seven goals including a hat-trick in the SA Games in Dhaka. 

For Anu, the goal against Bangladesh was her 11th in the tournament. It was also 16th international goal for Anu. Anu had struck hat-trick each against Maldives and Pakistan and netted another four against Afghanistan. Anu is the first Nepali woman footballer to score an international hat-trick when she achieved the feat against Pakistan in the Dhaka Games. 

Nepal now face India in Thursday’s final in a rematch of the 11th SA Games championship match which Nepal lost 2-0 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. India advanced to the first edition of the SAFF Championship final with an 8-0 routing of Pakistan in the other semi-final match on Monday.