Nepal’s dramatic comeback against the hosts Uzbekistan went in vain in the decisive match of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup football Qualifiers held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
They were on the cusp of completing an astounding, memorable and epic come -from- behind win but fell short by a whisker at the end.
Their dream of making it to the championship round taking place in 2026 in Australia for the first time got shattered much to everyone’s dismay. Indeed, this was a heartbreaking loss. So near,yet so far. They fell at the last hurdle, following their unsuccessful bid to prevail in the nerve racking tie-breaker.
An unexpected failure to convert the spot kick by star striker Sabitra Bhandari and Anjana Rana Magar’s kick saved by the Uzbek custodian sealed the win for the hosts. The 4-2 victory in the penalty shootout came as a huge relief for the home team as they almost came crashing down from an indomitable position.
For Bhandari aka Samba,the new skipper of the national team the miss in the tie-breaker eclipsed her brilliant performance in ninety minutes of action. She scripted history by scoring her incredible hat-tricks in the qualifiers, taking her goal tally to 8.
Nepal got off to a shaky start, conceding 2 early goals in less than 15 minutes of play. At that point, it seemed they were headed for a big defeat and a bounce back looked less probable. However,just in time, that all changed when Samba found the net. The goal put the team on the path to comeback.From there on overcoming initial sloppy performance they played a more purposeful, aggressive and meaningful game.
Although they trailed 1-3 going into the second half, they took advantage of the opponent who had to play with 10 men, in the wake of one of their players' red card. The second half saw the visitors take control of the game and dominate the proceedings. The match reached its climax after Samba completed her hattrick, scoring two quick goals in a space of 2 minutes. Though Nepal went all out for the winning goal,the hosts defended frantically and hung on till the end, taking the game to the penalty shootout. Rest is history.
No matter the outcome, players should hold their heads high and be proud of themselves. Undoubtedly, by and large, they put in a fighting performance, proving that they can match tough opponents stride for stride. There is no dearth of talent in the country. The current squad is laden with talented players. Even in the absence of a strong support network, they have made steady progress over the years. This is a reminder that they have the potential to reach new heights in the sport They need quality coaching, constant international exposure, proper and timely preparation for international tournaments.
More importantly, the All Nepal Football Association must prioritize women’s football, ensuring its continued development and sustainability. They have to increase investment in grassroots football, develop a strong professional domestic league and focus on player development by providing effective training programs and resources.
By Sushil Thapa,Fairfax,VA, USA
