By a staff reporter
Nepal have suffered defeat in the second international friendly against Myanmar after a late goal from the home side. Nepal, who had played a goalless draw in the first friendly three days ago, suffered a 1-0 loss today.
Win Naing Tun scored the only goal for the home side. Myanmar scored in the 86th minute with a counter-attack right after Nepal hit the crossbar at the other end. Debutant Dinesh Henjan struck the frame of the goal from a Manish Dangi cutback. Myanmar cleared the eventual danger and hit Nepal on the break to score and take the win. Nepal players were protesting due to a flag that went up in the process at the other end but failure to play to the referee’s whistle handed Nepal the loss with that goal.
Nepal squandered many chances to take the lead in the match. Awas Lamichhane and Anjan Bista had the most notable chances in the first half but couldn’t find the net.
Nepal got away with a scare at the start of the second half after Myanmar hit the post. Gillespye Jung Karki couldn’t put the ball past the goalkeeper after beating the defense line in the 66th minute. Kiran Chemjong made a good one-vs-one save in the 73rd minute. Two minutes later, substitute Hisub Thapaliya’s shot was saved by Myanmar goalkeeper.
Nepal had the chances to go ahead but failing to convert them meant Nepal lost the match. Coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese handed three debuts in the two friendlies in Myanmar. Gilespye and Hisub were given debuts in the first friendly while Tribhuwan Army FC forward Dinesh Henjan made his first international appearance coming on in the 83rd minute of the second friendly in place of Awas Lamichhane.
Nepal’s focus will now shift to the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers first round playoffs against Laos next month. Nepal will host Laos at the Dasharath Stadium on October 12 and will travel to Laos for the second leg on October 17. The winners over the two legs will qualify for the second round of qualifiers.
