SAFF Championship: Nepal steamroller Bhutan 8-0 in women’s football
Captain Anu, Sanjana and Manuka score doubles for last year’s runners-up
ISLAMABAD:
Nepal floored Bhutan 8-0 in their South Asian Football Federation (Saff) Women’s Championship campaign opener on Wednesday at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.
The last year’s runners-up dominated the match from the outset, taking an early lead in the 10th minute through Sanjana Rana’s goal.
Manuka Giri doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, while captain Anu Lama struck two in the 36th and 38th minute, while Sanjana concluded the first half with her second goal in the 45th minute as Nepal led 6-0 at the interval.
Deepa Adhikari then scored a brace in the second half and Sabitra sealed the win in the 89th minute of the second Group B match.
“We’re here to win the title, plain and simple,” Nepal coach Darshan Bhaktar Raj Lawat told The Express Tribune. “Winning is what matters the most. We’ve been finalists in the previous two editions of the championship, so now nothing less than the trophy will be enough for us.”
Lawat said that this is the first time his team is visiting Pakistan and the experience has been more than satisfactory so far, adding that he is proud of his team’s performance in the opening match.
“Three of my players have scored more than two goals each, which is something to appreciate,” said Lawat, as his team celebrated the win in the background.
Meanwhile, captain Anu said her wish is to become the player of the tournament. “South Asian Games are the biggest competitions for us,” she said. “I’ve been playing football for 11 years now, and it will be a great achievement to be able to win a title for my country.”
Nepal will face Pakistan in their next match tomorrow, while India will begin their Group A matches against Maldives and Afghanistan will play against Bangladesh on Thursday.
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Nepal floored Bhutan 8-0 in their South Asian Football Federation (Saff) Women’s Championship campaign opener on Wednesday at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad.
The last year’s runners-up dominated the match from the outset, taking an early lead in the 10th minute through Sanjana Rana’s goal.
Manuka Giri doubled the lead in the 22nd minute, while captain Anu Lama struck two in the 36th and 38th minute, while Sanjana concluded the first half with her second goal in the 45th minute as Nepal led 6-0 at the interval.
Deepa Adhikari then scored a brace in the second half and Sabitra sealed the win in the 89th minute of the second Group B match.
“We’re here to win the title, plain and simple,” Nepal coach Darshan Bhaktar Raj Lawat told The Express Tribune. “Winning is what matters the most. We’ve been finalists in the previous two editions of the championship, so now nothing less than the trophy will be enough for us.”
Lawat said that this is the first time his team is visiting Pakistan and the experience has been more than satisfactory so far, adding that he is proud of his team’s performance in the opening match.
“Three of my players have scored more than two goals each, which is something to appreciate,” said Lawat, as his team celebrated the win in the background.
Meanwhile, captain Anu said her wish is to become the player of the tournament. “South Asian Games are the biggest competitions for us,” she said. “I’ve been playing football for 11 years now, and it will be a great achievement to be able to win a title for my country.”
Nepal will face Pakistan in their next match tomorrow, while India will begin their Group A matches against Maldives and Afghanistan will play against Bangladesh on Thursday.
Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.