AFC Challenge Cup 2012: Nepal Vs Palestine Pre Match Preview

Group : A


Match: Nepal Vs Maldives 
Venue:Dasrath Stadium
Time: 5 PM NST


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PROBABLE  LINE-UPS:

MALDIVES Imran; Akram, Umair, Rilwan,Shifan; Arif, Fazeel, Adhuham, Shaafee; Ashfaq, Mukhthaar

NEPAL Malla; Rai, Thapa, Chand, Shrestha; Basnet, Khadka, Silwal, Tamang; Gurung, Sahukhala

Both teams have lost their opening match so it will be a great chance for both of them to revive their chance to stay in the fray for the second round. So both team will be hungry for a win.

The 2008 SAFF Cup Champions Maldives will be looking to bounce back on track with a win against the hosts after losing the opener to Turkmenistan.

Ahmed Thoriq will miss out for Maldives following his red card in the last match . Ali Ashfaq will however return after serving out his suspension.

On the other hand, despite going all out in their first match of the competition, Nepal have also lost to Palestine, leaving them hungry for a win.

The two sides will be raring for a win to better their chances to make it through to the semi-finals or the knockout phase of the tournament, having to play another match after Saturday's encounter.

Nepal National football team Coach, Graham Roberts 

"We had a spirited performance against Palestine but squandered some great chances to score so hope things will improve in our next match," the former England international said.

"I believe that we can beat any team in this competition. Like I always said, we need to believe in ourselves and keep on playing good football, the result will come," continued Roberts, who has no suspensions or injury worries to contend with.

Maldives National Football team Coach, Istavan Urbanyi

"We missed Ali Ashfaq against Turkmenistan but he would be a great asset for our remainder of the campaign," Urbanyi said.

"It's going to be another tough match but we are ready and we can pull off a great result on Saturday. We hope our boys will stay focused and do the job professionally," he added.

Facts About Two Opponents:

• The match against Turkmenistan on March 8, 2012, opened Maldives' Challenge Cup record with a 3-1 defeat.

• Hasan Adhuham of Maldives scored in his first international match i.e the last match.
  
  

• Maldives captain and star striker Ali Ashfaq is also the all time top scorer for his country with 23 goals to his name.

• After former India coach Stephen Constantine, Graham Roberts is the second Englishman to coach the Nepali national team.

• Nepal have not surpassed the semi-finals stage in the Challenge Cup history and did not qualify for the tournament in the last edition.

• Maldives and Nepal have played quite a handful of matches against each other, recent two of which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Last Five matches & Head to Head:

Head to Head

SAFF Championship ‎(SAFF)‎	02-Dec-2011	Maldives 1 - Nepal 1
SAFF Championship ‎(SAFF)‎	05-Dec-2009	Maldives 1 - Nepal 1

Last Five Matches

Maldives
08-Mar-2012	Turkmenistan 3 - Maldives 1	ACC
09-Dec-2011	Maldives 1 - India 3	SAFF
06-Dec-2011	Maldives 3 - Bangladesh 1	SAFF
04-Dec-2011	Pakistan 0 - Maldives 0	SAFF
02-Dec-2011	Maldives 1 - Nepal 1	SAFF

Nepal
08-Mar-2012	Nepal 0 - Palestine 2	ACC
09-Dec-2011	Afghanistan 1 - Nepal 0	SAFF
06-Dec-2011	Pakistan 1 - Nepal 1	SAFF
04-Dec-2011	Nepal 1 - Bangladesh 0	SAFF
02-Dec-2011	Maldives 1 - Nepal 1	SAFF