Kathmandu, November 12
Nepal’s national football team beat Laos in an AFC Solidarity Cup Semifinal that went to the wire, to secure a place in the title match of the tournament.
Nepal conceded an early goal to south-east Asian side, but a clinical header from Bimal Ghartimagar in the opening minutes of the second half saw the side equalise. Nepal’s Ananta Tamang went on to score the sides’s second goal in the dying moments of the match, but the team could not hold on to the lead.
Laos equalised just a few minutes before the whistle, and the match went to extra-time. Both teams played defensive football during extra-time, and a goal looked impossible.
The match headed to a tie-breaker. Nepal’s custodian Kiran Chemjong blocked two of Laos players’ attempt to score as Nepali kick-takers capitalised on all their chances.
Nepal now face Macau in the final.
The AFC Solidarity Cup is the Asian Football Confederation’s lowest division tournament, organised to provide exposure and opportunity for lowest ranked sides in Asia. The tournament does not have any significance when it comes to qualifying for the AFC Cup or the FIFA World Cup.
