Margao: Nepal were made to work hard for their victory as they edged past Bhutan 1-0 in the opening match of the SAFF Women's Championship at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Monday. The defending finalists struggled to break down a resilient Bhutanese defense despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances.
Match Summary
The only goal of the match came in the 23rd minute when Gita Rana's strike took a deflection off Dorji Edon and found the back of the net. Nepal, ranked second best in the tournament, controlled the game from start to finish but lacked the cutting edge upfront.
Rashmi Kumari Ghising came close to doubling the lead when her shot hit the upright, while Rekha Poudel was denied by the Bhutan goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation. Bhutan, meanwhile, defended resolutely and frustrated Nepal's attackers throughout the match.
Bhutan's Resistance
Bhutan's best chance to equalize came in the second half when Yeshey Bidha's attempted cross almost went directly into the net. However, Nepal managed to hold on for the win.
With this result, Nepal have one foot in the semifinals, while Bhutan will need to secure a result in their final group stage match against Sri Lanka to keep their knockout stage hopes alive.
