An Ali Zafar screamer in the second half handed Nepal a narrow defeat in the first SAFF U-19 Championship Group ‘A’ encounter against Pakistan. Zafar’s effort from almost 40 yards sent Nepali fans who flocked to the Dasharath Stadium to support the young side back home heartbroken.
Nepal were hanging in the match with the defense holding off the Pakistani attack, with skipper and goalkeeper Jiyarath Sheikh being the best of the bunch throughout the match, But Sheikh had no answers to Zafar’s hit from outside the box.
Nepal’s performance in the match fell well short of expectations, particularly in the offensive department. The Nepali defense held their ground admirably, but the attack struggled to find its spark. In contrast, the Pakistani offensive line proved to be a persistent threat to Nepal’s backline.
The 11th minute saw a promising attempt by Nepali forward Samir Tamang, but unfortunately, his shot from within the box veered wide of the post. Three minutes later, Pakistani forward Mohammad Aadil’s shot lacked the precision to trouble the goalpost. In the 27th minute, Shah Jahan’s free-kick was thwarted by Nepal’s goalkeeper, Jiyarath Sheikh.
Pakistan had a flurry of opportunities in the 33rd minute. Mohammad Aadil’s strike was expertly parried by Sheikh, and Mohammad Haroon, seizing the rebound, unfortunately lifted the ball over the crossbar. Just a minute later, Aadil found himself with a one-on-one chance but sent his shot wide of the target, with only goalkeeper Sheikh to beat. Sheikh further showcased his prowess in the 40th minute, making a crucial save against Shah Jahan’s long-distance effort.
As the game progressed, Mohammad Haroon’s attempt from within the box in the 45th minute sailed wide of the post, adding to the missed opportunities. In the 53rd minute, Nepal’s Deepak Thapa Magar’s header lacked the direction needed to trouble the opposing goalkeeper.
The turning point came in the 76th minute when Pakistan seized the lead. Ali Zafar unleashed a thunderous long-range strike that nestled into the top corner, just eluding the outstretched reach of Jiyarath Sheikh. This goal ultimately proved decisive, securing Pakistan’s victory.
In the dying moments of the match, Nepal’s hopes of equalizing were dwindled. In the first minute of added time, Ayush Timsina’s audacious long-range shot was Nepal’s final chance, but it was the only glimmer of hope for an equalizer.
Nepal’s upcoming fixture is against Maldives on September 25. Before that, Maldives will go head-to-head with Pakistan on September 23. In Group B, India secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Bangladesh in the opening match. Bhutan is the other team in this group. The top two teams from each group will earn their spots in the semi-finals.
