Sagar Thapa’s Late Winner Earns The Nepal A Vital Three Point!!

Manjul with Nepali flag in stadium

Sagar Thapa’s 95th minute winner, reminiscent of Ronaldinho’s winner against England in the 2002 World Cup, helped Nepal beat Bangladesh after 18 long years in a group A encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.

It was after Rabin Shrestha was fouled by Mamun Miyah, Sagar Thapa stepped up and send in a lofted free-kick whose flight goalkeeper Sahidul Alam missed.

Nepal started with Jumanu Rai in place of Santhosh SauKhala after the latter impressed after coming on as a substitute against Maldives. Bangladesh made as many as four changes to their line-up with Mamunul Mamun being left out due to health concerns.
Nepal  lined-up in their 5-3-2 formation with Rabin Shrestha and Biraj Maharjan being the men on the two flanks. Bangladesh preferred the traditional 4-4-2.

It was in the fourth minute of the match and Anil Gurung showed the same mistakes asin the  previous game. From a corner-kick, the ball fell at the feet of Anil who sent the ball over from handshaking distance.

Thereafter Rohit Chand had an attempt from 35 yards which was parried for a corner by goalkeeper Sahidul Alam.

Bharat Khawas had an opportunity to slot the ball home after Rabin Shrestha’s run down the left flank saw him pull for the former to unleash a feeble shot.

Jumanu Rai and Razaul Khan had a clash of heads wherein the Nepal number 11 came out worse and had to be substituted thereafter with Santhosh being introduced around the half hour mark.


Bangladesh had just one half-chance when from an Ameli free-kick, Pronotosh and Razaul were the closest to tapping in.

Towards the end of the half, Bijay found Anil in space who instead of having a crack on goal preferred to lay the ball across the face of the goal in what was the best chance of the first half.

It took just four minutes after the break for Bangladesh to put together a move as Nasirul Islam’s found Mithun Chowdhury who tried to lob over the Nepal goalkeeper. But the Nepal custodian did well to avert the danger.

Nepal had a couple of penalty appeals turned down when Anil Gurung and Rabin Shrestha appeared to have been brought down inside the box by Bangladesh defenders.

Bangladesh had a couple of decent opportunities. First when Mithun Chowdhury rounded Kiran Kumar Limbu to send in a ball across the face of the goal which Meshu missed at the far post. Thereafter the second chance came when Meshu’s header from a Nasirul Islam cross was saved by Limbu.

winning moment of Nepal

Just when it looked that the game was set for a stalemate, Sagar Thapa’s free-kick left the Bangladesh players stunned as the highest ranked team in the competition is yet to register their first full points after two matches. However Nepal will be happy from three point which they really deserve. This make the semifinal bout of the match intresting and the next match to be played later will show some sign. 

Nepalese fan before the match begin