SHILLONG: Defending champions India were held to yet another goalless draw, this time by a resilient Nepal who made it to the final of the women’s football at the 12th South Asian Games here on Thursday.
The hosts, meanwhile, have to beat Bangladesh in a do or die match to make it to the final. Sri Lanka and Maldives are virtually out of the tournament.
The outcome Thursday’s tie was disappointing for India which came to the match riding on a 5-0 victory over Sri Lanka two days ago.
The evenly matched contest saw shots being fired on either half but all attempts eventually went in vain as the match ended 0-0 at full time.
India’s key forward Grace Dangmei was carried out on a stretcher after suffering an injury sometime around the 38th minute before being replaced by an impressive Bala Devi who was in the thick of action especially in the latter half.
India’s biggest threat, Nepal looked promising and came close to scoring on several occasions. Their first clear cut chance was in the 20th minute when Sabitra Bhandari headed a ball that was saved by India’s goal keeper Aditi Chauhan.
Three minutes after the start of the second half, Nepal’s Niru Thapa’s free kick after an Indian foul nearly found the top of goal but an acrobatic Chauhan was able to make an excellent save.
In the 52nd minute, super sub Bala Devi came close to giving India the lead with a scorcher that zoomed just over the bar.
Again, in the 74th minute Nepal almost seized the decisive goal after a header by skipper Anu Lama. Dipa Adhikari crossed from the far left flank for Lama to head past Aditi Chauhan but the ball found the post to deny Nepal yet another goal.
For India, the last chance went begging in the 90th minute when Pyari Xaxa failed to convert of a cross by Sasmita Devi.
At the post match conference, India coach Sajid Yusuf Dhar said that Nepal was always going to be a tough opponent but now they can only look forward to winning against Bangladesh as the result for that match will decide which country plays the final.
In the other match of the day, Maldives beat Sri Lanka 2-1 to end their journey in the women’s football event of the 12th South Asian Games. Maldives skipper Fadhuwa Zahir was the star of the day, scoring both goals through set pieces in the first half. Hasara Dilrange scored Lanka’s lone goal in the stoppage time post the 90th minute.
