9:18 PM
amit
KATHMANDU; Nepal qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup finals after a goalless draw against Sri Lanka in their last Group ‘D’ qualifying match here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
With a win, loss and draw, Nepal earned four points to finish group runners-up behind defending champions DPR Korea, who defeated Afghanistan 2-0 for their third successive win in the other match of the day. The Koreans finished with maximum nine points from three matches. Nepal will now join Palestine, Philippines, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives and Tajikistan in the finals with the venue and date yet to be finalised.
Nepal’s English coach Graham Roberts said he was proud of the team’s showing though the team couldn’t score against the depleted Sri Lankans who were dubbed a weaker opponent after their shock defeat against Afghanistan. “Three matches in five days and to come with this result is satisfying. They have improved a lot and I am really proud of them,” said the coach.
Nepal couldn’t create much of the scoring chances despite having greater ball possession. The first real chance for Nepal came in the 21st minute when Biraj Maharjan dropped a long pass in the Lankan area but Anil Gurung couldn’t chase the ball to muff a one-on-one situation. Anil also shot off target in the 36th minute.
At the stroke of the half time, Bharat Khawas managed to penetrate the Sri Lankan defense only to end up passing poorly. As against the Koreans, Nepal were setting up the pace well and dominated Sri Lanka from the start of the second half but failed to find the back of the net.
Roberts then made two changes after the break bringing in Santosh Shahukhala and Raju Tamang in place of Bharat and midfielder Nirajan Khadka. However, the substitution payed no dividend. Sri Lanka struggled to penetrate Nepali defense and hardly bothered the Nepali glovesman Kiran Kumar Limbu (Chemjong).
Roberts said Nepal played for a win. “We tried really hard to score, especially in the second half but we couldn’t,” he said. The coach was all praise of his skipper Sagar Thapa who played the match despite sustaining ankle injury during the Korea match on Saturday. “He is really brave to have played full 90 minutes despite being not being fully fit,” the coach added.
At the Armed Police Force (APF) Headquarters grounds in Halchowk, Choe Kum Chol and Ri Chol Myong scored for the DPR Korea in a game the 2010 world Cup finalists dominated entire. Despite dominating from the start they needed first half added-on time to break the deadlock.
Unmarked Chol pounced on a long pass from midfield to poke in the first goal just second before going into the break. Chol compensated on his 27th minute miss when he failed to beat Afghanistan goalkeeper Mansur faqiryar in one-on-one encounter.
The Koreans continued their assault even after the break creating numerous chances but the Afghani defense held firm until the 69th minute when Myong converted the second goal following a corner kick from Jong Il Gwan. Korea also wasted a spot kick in the 62nd minute. Faisal Sakhizada tripped Kim Kuk Jin inside the area and the former stepped in to take the strike only for the midfielder to shoot high above the bar.
The DPR Korea coach Yun Jong Su said they are yet to analyse their performance in the tournament. “It’s not long that I took the reins of the national team. Apart from three players who represented in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, rest of the squad members are new and young.”
Despite the narrow margin wins they came up during the tournament, the Korean coach believed there was an immense gulf between them and their opponents’ game. Su said he is still scrutinising the strength and weaknesses of his young team in a bid to build a strong side for future.
Su’s Afghanistan counterpart Mohammad Yousuf Kargar was satisfied with the performance of his team. “This result against a side, who represented in the World Cup, is not bad at all,” said Kargar adding that even the two goals the Koreans scored had largely to do with the luck rather than their good play. “This was a tough group and so we do not have any qualms for not making it to the finals,” added Kargar.
With a win, loss and draw, Nepal earned four points to finish group runners-up behind defending champions DPR Korea, who defeated Afghanistan 2-0 for their third successive win in the other match of the day. The Koreans finished with maximum nine points from three matches. Nepal will now join Palestine, Philippines, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives and Tajikistan in the finals with the venue and date yet to be finalised.
Nepal’s English coach Graham Roberts said he was proud of the team’s showing though the team couldn’t score against the depleted Sri Lankans who were dubbed a weaker opponent after their shock defeat against Afghanistan. “Three matches in five days and to come with this result is satisfying. They have improved a lot and I am really proud of them,” said the coach.
Nepal couldn’t create much of the scoring chances despite having greater ball possession. The first real chance for Nepal came in the 21st minute when Biraj Maharjan dropped a long pass in the Lankan area but Anil Gurung couldn’t chase the ball to muff a one-on-one situation. Anil also shot off target in the 36th minute.
At the stroke of the half time, Bharat Khawas managed to penetrate the Sri Lankan defense only to end up passing poorly. As against the Koreans, Nepal were setting up the pace well and dominated Sri Lanka from the start of the second half but failed to find the back of the net.
Roberts then made two changes after the break bringing in Santosh Shahukhala and Raju Tamang in place of Bharat and midfielder Nirajan Khadka. However, the substitution payed no dividend. Sri Lanka struggled to penetrate Nepali defense and hardly bothered the Nepali glovesman Kiran Kumar Limbu (Chemjong).
Roberts said Nepal played for a win. “We tried really hard to score, especially in the second half but we couldn’t,” he said. The coach was all praise of his skipper Sagar Thapa who played the match despite sustaining ankle injury during the Korea match on Saturday. “He is really brave to have played full 90 minutes despite being not being fully fit,” the coach added.
At the Armed Police Force (APF) Headquarters grounds in Halchowk, Choe Kum Chol and Ri Chol Myong scored for the DPR Korea in a game the 2010 world Cup finalists dominated entire. Despite dominating from the start they needed first half added-on time to break the deadlock.
Unmarked Chol pounced on a long pass from midfield to poke in the first goal just second before going into the break. Chol compensated on his 27th minute miss when he failed to beat Afghanistan goalkeeper Mansur faqiryar in one-on-one encounter.
The Koreans continued their assault even after the break creating numerous chances but the Afghani defense held firm until the 69th minute when Myong converted the second goal following a corner kick from Jong Il Gwan. Korea also wasted a spot kick in the 62nd minute. Faisal Sakhizada tripped Kim Kuk Jin inside the area and the former stepped in to take the strike only for the midfielder to shoot high above the bar.
The DPR Korea coach Yun Jong Su said they are yet to analyse their performance in the tournament. “It’s not long that I took the reins of the national team. Apart from three players who represented in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, rest of the squad members are new and young.”
Despite the narrow margin wins they came up during the tournament, the Korean coach believed there was an immense gulf between them and their opponents’ game. Su said he is still scrutinising the strength and weaknesses of his young team in a bid to build a strong side for future.
Su’s Afghanistan counterpart Mohammad Yousuf Kargar was satisfied with the performance of his team. “This result against a side, who represented in the World Cup, is not bad at all,” said Kargar adding that even the two goals the Koreans scored had largely to do with the luck rather than their good play. “This was a tough group and so we do not have any qualms for not making it to the finals,” added Kargar.
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