Pakistan women in pain after a 12-0 defeat

Team to take on India in the SAFF football semi.

KARACHI: Nepal’s brutal 12-0 thrashing of Pakistan handed the team its first defeat at the SAFF Women’s Football Championship.

Pakistan, who had qualified for the last-four before the match against Nepal, will face India tomorrow while Nepal will take on Bangladesh.

Pakistan conceded the first goal in the 15th minute.  Seven minutes later, Mira Maharjan doubled the lead and Laxi Poudel added one more in the 40th minute as Nepal led 3-0 at the interval.

While Pakistan struggled, Nepal stretched the lead to 7-0 in less than 10 minutes as Jamuna Gurung, Pramila Rai, Sajana Rana and Anu Lama scored. The remaining five goals came in the 69th, 77th, 82nd 87th and 88th minutes as Pakistan looked hopeless.With the defeat, Pakistan stand second with six points while Nepal top Group B with nine points.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” coach Tariq Lutfi told The Express Tribune. “The team will learn how to play good football when they play against strong teams. I was more excited with the quality of the opposition than being upset. We have a semi-final to play against an even better side. All I can tell my team right now is to give their best and learn from their opponents.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2010.