By a staff reporter
Anjan Bista’s failure to convert a spot-kick in the second half forced Nepal to play a goalless draw in a friendly against Myanmar. In the first friendly of two against the 160th-ranked side in the world, Nepal played a goalless draw at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.
Nepal were awarded a penalty in the 58th minute of the match after a handball from Myanmar fullback Phyo Win. Anjan Bista had the chance to equal the goalscoring record for Nepal but his penalty was saved by Burmese goalkeeper Zin Phyo.
Nepal and Myanmar both failed to convert numerous other chances and win the match. Ananta Tamang’s free kick from way out in the ninth minute couldn’t go past the Myanmar wall. A header from Tamang off a Sanish Shrestha free kick in the 17th minute went wide of the post.
A minute later, Myanmar skipper MG MG Lwin found himself with an opportunity for a shot on Kiran’s goal totally unmarked but he dragged his shot wide of the near post.
Lwin’s attempted cross was met by Tamang in the 23rd minute but fell for Wai Lin Aung whose shot was blocked and fell for Than Paing but he couldn’t direct it towards the goal.
Myanmar failed to capitalize on a big chance in the 29th minute. Rohit Chand tried to clear Tamang’s headed clearance that stayed inside the box but failed to do so and Myanmar’s Aung Thu stole the ball from Chand and found himself free to shoot but his tame effort was easily gathered by Kiran.
Aashish Chaudhary’s shot from a tight angle from the left was saved by Myanmar goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo in the 34th minute.
Kiran Chemjong made a stellar save by tipping the ball over the bar from a shot from Aung Thu in the 37th minute. An initial shot was blocked by Rohit Chand after Tamang parried away a low-drilled cross and fell for Thu whose attempt was saved by Chemjong.
Myanmar squandered another golden opportunity towards the end of the half. Skipper Lwin was free inside the box and only had Kiran to beat but Laken Limbu’s tackle and block out of nowhere directed the ball wide.
In the second half, Nepal couldn’t create a clear chance. Aashish Chaudhary’s effort from almost 30-yards out was the closest Nepal came to scoring other than than penalty opportunity. Myanmar gave Nepal a scare in the dying minutes but a grounded cross from the right was blocked by Tamang.
Nepal head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese handed a debut to Gillespye Jung Karki from the start while Hisub Thapaliya was brought late on in the match for his first international appearance.
Nepal will take on Myanmar in the second friendly on September 11. The friendlies are as a part of preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers first-round playoffs against Laos next month.
