Apr. 9: Nepali eves have crashed out from the first round of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Paris 2024 Asian Qualifiers after they suffered second defeat in a row at the hands of FIFA Women’s World Cup participating team Vietnam at Dasharath Stadium, Kathmandu on Saturday.

Despite putting up improved performance as compared to the previous match against the same rivals, the 0-2 defeat in the second match made Nepal unable to move to another round of the qualifiers.

A brace from striker Pham Hai Yen helped visitors book their place at second round of the Paris Olympic Qualifiers with a cent percent win at the group stage of the first round in Kathmandu. .

Nepal has been drawn into the group ‘C’ along Vietnam, Nepal, Afghanistan and Palestine but Afghanistan and Palestine pulled out from the qualifiers leaving Nepal and Vietnam to play the group ‘C’ qualifiers. The team finishing at the top from the qualifiers can secure their spot at the second round of the qualifiers.

Earlier, Nepal suffered a 5-1 huge margin defeat at the hands of Vietnamese girls in the opener of the qualifiers last Wednesday. Nepal’s national women’s team advanced into the second round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers in 2018 as one of the best third-placed teams in the first round of the qualifiers.

Nepal secured their spot at the second round for the first time after they played a 1-1 draw to Bangladesh in their deciding match held on November 13, 2018 at Thunuwa Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar.

Team Vietnam will play FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 which will be held in New Zealand and Australia this year. The Southeast Asian Country, Vietnam, has been drawn into the group ‘E’ alongside defending champion United State of America (USA), Vietnam, Netherlands and Portugal.

Altogether 32 teams will vie for the prestigious title of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 which will be held from 20th July to 20th August. Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the tournament. After crashing out from the first round, Nepal’s national women’s football team head coach Anant Raj Thapa said they conceded two silly goals in the first half that put pressure on the team; otherwise, we would have stopped the visitors to a goalless draw.

“After conceding two silly goals that put our players under pressure and our defensive line made a blunder because we have limited options in the defensive line. Playing against the strongest sides help us perform better and it could help us to win the SAFF Championship and if we have to progress we have to play the more matches against the strongest nations,” Coach Thapa said. “The performance from girls in the second half proved that Nepali women’s team are capable to play against the strongest sides like Vietnam, which will increased our level that will help make a powerhouse of South Asian region,” Coach Thapa added.

Vietnam’s head coach Mai Duc Chung said that the second match against the home team was a very tough task for us.

“Nepal team played very well and we prepared about Nepal clash ahead of travel to Kathmandu, we knew very well about Nepal they are a good side so we made careful preparation before facing the home team,” the Vietnamese Coach said. “Nepali women played very well in the second half and women’s football of Nepal is improving day by day and I would like to congratulate them for doing well,”  the coach added.

Forward Yen put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute from the start after taking advantage of poor defense of the home team defenders. She scored a goal from the crowded box in the rebound of goalie Anjila Tumbapo Subba inside the box.

Striker Yen doubled the tally for the winning side after a minute of her first goal, scoring her individual second goal. She scored a brilliant goal beating three Nepali defenders with an assist from Tran Thi Thu Thao.

The first-half between ended 2-0 in favour of visitors but both teams created a couple of goal scoring chances in the second-half but failed to convert their chances. With an improved performance, the home team also made a couple of goal scoring chances Nepal’s efforts went in vain after main striker Sabitra Bhandari ‘Samba’ failed to score in one- versus-one against Vietnam goalie Khong Thi Hang in the 38th minute.