#sports #soccer #Nepal #women #AsianChampionship
Kathmandu – Nepal’s women’s national team suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout during the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. The match, which took place in Uzbekistan on Saturday night, ended with Nepal losing 4-2 on penalties after a goal difference in the shootout. With this loss, Nepal’s chances of qualifying for the AFC Championship and also for the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics have been dashed.
Captain Savitra Bhandari (Samba) of Nepal missed her penalty kick during the shootout, leading to Nepal’s defeat. Similarly, Anjana Rana Magar’s strike was saved by the Uzbekistan goalkeeper. As both teams had scored three goals each in the predetermined 90-minute game, the match went into a tiebreaker.
Savitra Bhandari’s hat-trick performance brought Nepal back into the game. While Uzbekistan had scored three goals in the first half, Nepal managed to score only one. In the second half, Savitra scored two more goals, bringing the game to a 3-3 tie in the 71st and 73rd minutes.
From the start, Nepal displayed a strong performance in the game. In the second minute of the match, Khabibullaev Bakhodur gave Uzbekistan an early lead. The Uzbek player struck from outside the box, but Nepal’s defender Geeta Rana managed to block the header. However, Khabibullaev swiftly struck again before being stopped by Nepal’s goalkeeper Anjana Rana Magar. Just eight minutes later, Nepal equalized with a goal that found its way into the net smoothly. Despite attempts by Anita Basnet and Nisha Thokar to reach the ball, the Uzbek goalkeeper managed to deflect it towards the goal post, leading to Uzbekistan’s advantage.
In the 24th minute, an error by the Uzbek goalkeeper allowed Nepal to score a goal. Rashmikumari Ghising headed the ball towards goal, and Captain Samba easily converted it into a goal from outside the box. However, in the 39th minute, Uzbekistan regained the lead with a 3-1 scoreline. After Saraswati Hamal committed a handball, Uzbekistan was awarded a penalty kick, which Shoyimov easily converted into a goal with a powerful strike.
During extra time in the first half, Uzbekistan resorted to time-wasting tactics by involving ten players in a tussle with Samba. Ergashev Bakhtiyor tackled Samba from behind, leading the referee to issue him a yellow card. Despite a strong performance in the first half, Samba brought Nepal back into the game. This marked her third hat-trick in the competition, following her previous victories against Laos (9-0) and Sri Lanka (8-0). Samba has also scored an international goal in the 68th minute.
After the defeat, Nepal’s hopes in South Asian women’s football have been limited.
Opinion from Ramesh Khatri, representative of Kansai Nepal News:
“This match was a test of resilience and skill for the Nepali women’s team. Despite the loss, their performance showcased determination and potential for growth. This defeat will undoubtedly serve as a learning experience and motivation for the team to continue improving and striving for success in future competitions.”
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: July 6, 2025 6:00 am
