AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers: Nepal Overpowers Northern Mariana Islands

Nepal breaks its losing trend as Neal Beats Northern Mariana Island Comfortably with the margin of 6-0 in the Opening Day of AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers Group D. Nepal started attacking game from the very beginning as Bharat Khawas scored in the 4th minute for the host country. Rabin Shrestha and Jagjeet Shrestha combined well to drop the ball in opponent’s box which Shahukhala failed to connect but the ball reached Khawas who headed the ball well enough to provide Nepal first goal of the game.
With an early lead, Nepal continued attacking which got them another goal. Shahukhala who failed to utilize some genuine chance headed well enough which kissed the net despite of Noetzel’s fingertip touch.

Hatrick Boy Bharat Khawas

Bharat Khawas got second goal on his name and third for Nepal in 40th minute which provided Nepal three goals lead till the end of first half. Second half started with Nepal’s dominance as they continued similar combination in midfield. Bhola Silwas was near to his goal, had he connected the ball well but Raju Tamang’s penalty conversion gifted Nepal the lead Silwal should have provided couple of minutes back.

Sandip Rai followed the footsteps of his colleagues and he added another goal for Nepal. Khawas got his hat trick in 70th minute after he converted an easy goal in 70th minute.Nepal dominated the possession and pressed for more goals. Mariana looked helpless as they could hardly get the ball onto their foot. Amar Dangol who replaced Shahukhala in second half came near to his first ever international goal but he could not direct the header well.

The match ended 6-0 as Nepal prepares to meet Bangladesh on its second match. Nepal have only only missed on taking part in the AFC Challenge Cup finals once since the tournaments inception, with the South Asians failing to qualify for the 2010 edition in Sri Lanka, and a win over Bangladesh on Monday will see them through in the 2014 finals if the Northern Mariana Islands fail to beat Palestine in the other tie on the same day.