Nepal’s Bharat Khawas makes a surging run forward against Yemen during AFC 2019 Asia Cup Qualifiers at the APF Halchowk Stadium, in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry
KATHMANDU: Nepal failed to capatilise on a home advantage as they shared points with the visiting Yemen team during the AFC 2019 Asia Cup Qualifiers played at the APF Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu, on Tuesday.
Nepal currently sits in third position of the group F with a solitary point after today’s stalemate. Yemen have maintained their unbeaten run in the qualifying round as they had registered a 2-1 win over Tajikistan.
Yemen leads with 4 points while Tajikistan languishes at the bottom in the standings.
The hosts started brightly against the cheeky opponents and controlled the game for half an hour. But strikers wayward finishing failed to yield any fruit.
Nepal’s goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu again performed above par with string of stunning saves and made amends for an earlier howler.
Nepal and Yemen players vie for a ball during a game in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry
Both the sides created chances in the opening exchanges, with five minutes on the clock, Yemani striker Ahmed Nabil was denied by a superb reflex save from Kiran Limbu. Bharat Khawas should have done better but his shot from a tight angle clipped the crossbar of Yemani post on 14th minutes of the first half.
The hosts Bishal Rai, Sujal Shrestha and Nawayug Shrestha went close to opening the scoring as the first half ended in a stalemate. At times, the strikers poor finishing and Yemeni keeper Mohammed Ebrahim Ali Ayash pulling stunning saves denied Nepal from opening the scoring.
Nepal rearguard displayed a commanding display with a rare lapse in the opening hours as they had conceded four goals against the Philippines and two goals against India at a friendly game in Mumbai on June 6.
Nepal’s cutting edge on the right flank was glaringly felt as defender Robin Shrestha is recuperating after undergoing anterior cruciate ligament surgery last month.
Bishal Rai, in for Bikram Lama, who is serving a one match suspension, failed to impose himself in the central midfield positions against the technically and physically superior Yemeni team.
Nepal’s Anjan Bista holds Yemani player during AFC 2019 Asia Cup Qualifiers in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry
Yemeni striker Ahmed Nabil made a well-time run after a through ball in the box, Kiran Kuran Limbu, who is in sumptuous form, thwarted a glaring opportunity by pinching the ball away from Nabil’s feet on the hour mark.
Nepal’s striker Anjan Bista smashed a right footed volley from 35 yards and drew a full diving save from the Yemeni keeper, parried the ball to safety.
A minute later Nepal’s striker Nawayug Shrestha cut back a teasing cross across the goal but failed to find any players to tab-in from close range.
Rohit Chand, most decorated player, nearly broke the deadlock on the 78th minutes after a neat footwork outside the box. His fierce shot took a wicked deflection but Mohammed Ebrahim Ali Ayash who is in superb form made a fine save as he dived to his right to finger tips to safety at the very last moment.
Courtesy: AFC
Chand, in the absence of Bikram Lama played as a box-to-box midfielder, and looked most likely to score against Yemen, at an evenly balanced game.
The hosts poured men forward to break the deadlock against the resolute defending of the visiting team but to no avail. Bimal Gharti Magar replaced Anjan Bista for the last five minutes but failed to waive any magic in the game.
At times, Yemen looked dangerous going forward, as their midfielders and strikers showed great composure with the ball but failed to pierce Kiran Kuram Limbu’s defence.
Earlier, Nepal lost to Yemen in both the occasion; 3-0 during the 2000 Asian Cup Qualifying in Kuwait and 2-0 during an international friendly in 2014 in Doha, Qatar.
As of latest FIFA ranking, Yemen ranks 124th positions to Nepal’s 169th positions.
Nepal player tries to control a ball against Yemen during AFC 2019 Asia Cup Qualifiers in Kathmandu, on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Photo: Udipt Singh Chhetry
Nepal are pitted against the Philippines, Yemen and Tajikistan in Group F. Nepal’s next qualifying game will be against Tajikistan at the Halchowk Stadium on September 5, 2017.
Nepal will travel to Tajikistan for an away game at Dushanbe on October 10, 2017.
Nepal will host the Philippines at the Halchowk Stadium on November 14, 2017. Earlier, the Ajkals had defeated Nepal 4-1 in Manila on March 28.
Nepal will travel to Doha to face Yemen for the final qualifying game of the campaign on March 27, 2018.
The United Arab Emirates is hosting the AFC 2019 Asia Cup.
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