Bengaluru (27 June) - Aashish Chaudhary's late strike gave Nepal a 1-0 victory over Pakistan to end their SAFF Championship 2023 campaign on a high.
Both teams were eliminated before they faced each other in their last game of Group A. Both Pakistan and Nepal both lost their first two games against India and Kuwait.
Nepal, the runners-up of SAFF Championship 2021, ended their campaign with 3 points. Pakistan lost all of their 3 group games and they failed to even score a goal in 3 matches.
India and Kuwait will face off later today, in which the first and second place of the group will be determined.
Both teams started the game played at the Sree Kantreeva Stadium in Bengaluru, with attacking intent. However, chances were few and far between in the first half.
Nepali midfielder Bimal Gharti Magar’s free kick went over the bar in the first half while Pakistani midfielder Alamgir Ghazi’s shot in the 30th minute went straight in to the hands of Nepali goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu.
The best chance of the half fell to Nepal in the 41st minute a Manish Dangi’s cross found Bimal, but his effort was denied by Pakistani goalkeeper Yoosuf Butt.
Nepal midfielder Manish found himself through on goal in the 61st minute but his effort was saved by Pakistani goalkeeper Butt.
Nepal broke the deadlock in the 80th minute when Aashish found the back of the net from a superb strike. Nepali midfielder Laken Limbu placed the ball for Aashish on the edge of the box, and he set himself for a volley that found the bottom corner of the net.
In the remaining minutes of the game, Pakistan pushed forward for an equalizer and Nepal could have doubled their lead on the counterattacks.
