Kathmandu (HamroKhelkud) – Hosts Nepal succumbed to Yemen in the second fixture of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Second Round. Nepal, playing their first home fixture of the round at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu, lost 2-0 against Yemen. Substitutes Omar Al-Dahi and Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dahi scored a goal each for the visitors.
Nepal were equipped with the services of Ananta Tamang and Dinesh Henjan from the start, the two absentees in the 4-0 loss against UAE due to injury. It was Nepal who created the first clear chance of the match.
Forward Gillespye Jung Karki fouled the Yemen goalkeeper in his attempt to score in the third minute and squandered the opportunity. Gillespye was again at the center of attention when he failed to meet a Dinesh Henjan cross from the left flank in the 11th minute. Another Dinesh cross in the 28th minute went across the box, evading everyone in the box. A minute later, Dinesh’s attempt from outside the box was wayward.
Ahmed Maher also had an attempt from outside the box in the 32nd minute that couldn’t be in the frame of the goal. Mohammed Al-Wajih’s attempt six minutes later also couldn’t trouble Nepal goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong.
Maher’s attempt at the very start of the second half couldn’t trouble Kiran again. Dinesh’s cross was gathered by the Yemen goalkeeper Al-Sadi before Anjan Bista could meet the ball. Omar Al-Dahi’s attempt from outside the box was parried away by Kiran in the 51st minute.
Hisub Thapaliya squandered Nepal’s biggest chance of the game in the 61st minute. Yemen goalkeeper Al-Sadi’s attempt at a clearance fell into Hisub’s feet and his clear attempt on goal was saved by the retreating goalkeeper.
Substitute Omar Al-Dahi’s thunderous strike from outside the box in the 72nd minute handed the visitors the lead. His run evading three Nepali defenders to unleash a shot from outside the box was successful in handing the travelling party the lead.
Another substitute, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dahi’s beautiful finish, rounded off the win for Yemen. He chipped the ball over Kiran in a one-on-one opportunity to seal all three points for Yemen.
Nepal conjured up a few chances towards the end but in vain.
Nepal head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese handed SAG Gold Medalist Rajesh Pariyar his international debut in the loss. He took the field in the 79th minute in place of Anjan Bista to don the national colours for the very first time.
Nepal sit fourth in the group with zero points. UAE, who have two wins out of two, sit comfortably at the top on six points. Bahrain and Yemen sit second and third on three points each.
The next two rounds of matches in the group will be played in the FIFA International window in March.