HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
KATHMANDU: Nepal ended a six-year long win drought in the AFC U-16 Championship with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain in their first match of the Group ‘C’ Qualifiers here at the Dasharath Stadium today.
First half strikes from Anjan Bista and Ananta Tamang secured victory for the home team. After defeating Jordan 3-1 in October 2007 in Iran, Nepal were yet to taste success in the AFC U-16 Championship. In between, Nepal were awarded a 3-0 victory over Lebanon, who were found guilty of fielding ineligible players here in October 2009. Nepal had lost the match 1-0 but the result was overturned in favour of Nepal.
It was the first win for Nepal in three encounters with Bahrain. Nepal had lost both their previous ties against Bahrain 2-3 in Iran in 2007 and 0-5 here in 2009.
Boosted by their runner-up finish in the second SAFF U-16 Championship here on July 30, Nepal made a bright start and broke the deadlock in the 12th minute when Anjan scored from the edge of the area. Fed by Hemant Thapa Magar, Anjan beat Bahrain skipper Mohamed Jamal and chipped above the advancing goalkeeper Mohammed Khulaif Hamad Hussain Alazab.
Nepali also created a couple of scoring chances but failed to utilise them. Kiran Sunar’s shot from the edge of the area went inches wide of the target in the 18th minute before goalie Alazab made a finger-tip save to punch out skipper Bimal Gharti Magar’s header two minutes later.
Moments later, a Bahrain defender made a goalline clearance to deny Anjan. Bahrain were a better side after the break but Nepal held firm to preserve their lead. Nepal goalkeeper Roman Rasaili, who was barely troubled in the first half, denied MJ Marhoon twice in the 51st and 64th minute.
Bahrain ended the match with 10 men when Hazeem Naseem Alshamsi, a 79th minute substitute, received marching order for a dangerous tackle on skipper Bimal in the dying moments of the game.
In an early kickoff, skipper Sajjad Jasim scored a hat-trick as group favourite Iraq hammered Turkmenistan 8-1. After a 1-1 deadlock at half time, Iraq poured in seven goals after resumption. Sajjad Jasim put Iraq ahead in the 10th minute before Metdayev Akmammet levelled the scores in the 22nd minute.
Sajjad Jasim restored Iraq lead in the 59th minute and completed his hat-trick converting an 84th minute penalty. Mayaser Mohammed Gatea (80, 88) struck twice, while Rami Raheem Saddam Al-Shmailawi (69), Ali Yousif Tuaimah (78) and Mustafa Mohsin Atiyah (injury time) netted one goal apiece for Iraq.
Nepal will play Iraq next, while Turkmenistan are up against Bahrain on Friday.
Journos misbehaved, barred from stadium
KATHMANDU: Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) on Wednesday lashed out on All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) after security personal deployed by the local organisers misbehaved with some sports journalists on the inaugural day of the U-16 Championship Qualifying match at the Dasharath Stadium on Wednesday.
“Journalists carrying ANFA-distributed press identity cards have not only been barred from entering the stadium but were also misbehaved with foul words which can’t be tolerated at all,” said NSJF in a release. “A Garud Security personal even barred a journalist, who reached Tripureshwor to prepare a report on boxing, from entering the stadium premises,” read the NSJF release.
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