Nepal concedes 2-3 defeat against Bangladesh in SAFF U-20

KATHMANDU: Nepal suffered a heartbreaking 3–2 defeat to hosts Bangladesh in the dying moments of its second match in the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship, conceding the winning goal in the final kick of the game.

Although Nepal trailed Bangladesh 2–0 at halftime, it mounted an impressive comeback in the second half to level the match 2–2. However, the hosts snatched victory with a dramatic injury-time winner.

Bangladesh opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Sinha Jahan Shikha who capitalized on a loose ball that had been cleared off the line by Nepali defender Ganga Rokaya. Nepal came close to equalizing in the 28th minute, but Anisha Rai’s free-kick struck the crossbar and went out.

Bangladesh doubled its lead in the 36th minute after a goalkeeping error from Sujata Tamang allowed Sagorika to score the second.

Early in the second half, both teams were reduced to 10 players after Nepal’s Simran Rai and Bangladesh’s Sagorika were shown red cards for trading punches.

Nepal was awarded a penalty shortly afterward, and Anisha Rai scored from the spot to bring the score to 2–1. With just five minutes remaining in regulation time, Nepal equalized as Mina Deuba converted a cross from Purnima Rai to make the score 2-2.

Bangladesh found the winner deep into stoppage time, 12 minutes into added time, when Trishna Rani Sarkar struck to seal the home side’s dramatic win.

Nepal had defeated Bhutan 6–1 in its opening match. It will face Sri Lanka in the next match.