LAHORE – Nepal pushed Pakistan girls aside in the last league match of the SAFF Women’s Championship to qualify for the semi-final. Nepal qualified along with Pakistan, Bangladesh and India.
Pakistan will face India in the semi-final on December 20 while Bangladesh will take on Nepal on December 21. The final is scheduled for December 23. In Nepal’s 12-0 victory over Pakistan, front runner Anu Lama landed the opener in the 15th minute.
Mira Maharjan doubled the lead in the 21st minute by whipping the ball past the keeper from off a free-kick. Laxmi Poudel made it 3-0 when she accelerated onto Chandra Bhandari’s pass and flicked the ball into the net. Nepal led 3-0 at interval.
Nepal enhanced the lead to 7-0 with four goals in six minutes through Jamuna Gurung (50 min), Pramila Rai (52 min), Sajana Rana (53 min) and Anu Lama (56 min). Anu completed her third hat-trick in as many matches in the 69th minute to make it 8-0. Poudel scored again in the 77th minute while Rajana Darji made it 10-0 in the 82nd minute. Gurung also registered a hat-trick with goals in the 87th and 88th minute.
Earlier, title aspirants India assured themselves of a place in the semi-finals by thrashing Bangladesh 6-0 to top their group and set up a last-four clash against Pakistan. Kamala Devi led the goal rush with a hat-trick, Sasmita Malik found the net twice while Tababi Devi struck once for India.
