By a Staff Reporter
Nepal faces a narrow margin defeat over Chinese Taipei in the final outing of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Chinese Taipei registers a 4-2 over 10-men Nepal at Phu Tho Provincial Stadium in Vietnam.
A brace from Lin Hai-Cheng and apiece from Tai Tan-Yao and Lu Yi-Ting helped Chinese Taipei register a victory over Nepal. Prashant Laksham and Dhan Singh BK scored a goal each for Nepal.
It took Chinese Taipei 3 minutes to take the lead. Lin Hai-Cheng picked up a sprint from the middle of the ground and directed the ball into the net beating all the Nepali defenders.
Captain Prashant Laksham leveled the tally in the 10th minute. Sujal Bam’s initial effort was blocked by Chinese Taipei’s Goal Keeper Chen Hsuan Ting. The rebound then found Harish Raj Bhatta whose attempt got stopped by Ji Jr-Yun. Prashant shot in the second rebound got deflected and found the net.
Chinese Taipei went in front again in the 28th minute. Tai Tan-Yao made no mistake from the header off Kung Chih-Yu’s corner. Chinese Taipei went into the half with a narrow lead.
However, Dhan Singh BK scored an equalizer in the 61st minute of the match. Niraj Karki’s lofted pass from the right edge of the box was tapped in by Dhan Singh.
Nepal was deprived to take a lead as the crossbar became a barrier in the 64th minute. Prashant’s screamer hit the crossbar, Sijal Rai then found the rebound but somehow failed to convert it into an empty net.
Dipak Thapa Magar of Nepal commenced a foul and was sent off with a second yellow in the 79th minute. Lu Yi-Ting of Chinese Taipei scored a direct freekick from almost 30yard away in the 80th minute.
Lin Hai-Cheng dribbled past Nepali goalkeeper Samir Chand and netted into an open post in the 90th minute. Samir stepped into the field in the 86th minute replacing Krishal Moktan.
Nepal lost 3-0 to Thailand in its first outing and went 5-0 down to host Vietnam in the second.
