SAFF: Nepal have it easy against Sri Lanka, enter semis

Margao: Nepal did their reputation no harm as they put it across Sri Lanka 2-0 with ease to move into the semifinals of the SAFF Women’s Championship at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, on Sunday.

The second-highest ranked side in the competition will now face defending champions Bangladesh in the semifinal on Wednesday.

Nepal were the dominant team from start to finish but it wasn’t until midway into the game that they opened their account. It came from the boots of Rashmi Kumari Ghising, quite easily the most dangerous player upfront. It were Dipa Sahi and Rekha Poudel who played a nice one-two on top of the box, and Rekha did well to feed the ball for Rashmi, who finished calmly from inside the box.

Nepal’s second from the boots of Renuka Nagarkoti had class written all over it. The captain saw that the goalkeeper was slightly out of position and she brilliantly lobbed the ball from distance, over the surprised goalkeeper, to put the match beyond Sri Lanka’s reach.

Nepal could have scored more. Gita Rani’s header from close sailed wide, a long-range effort from Nisha Thokar was tipped on to the post, and Birsana Chaudhar’s effort from distance struck the post before rebounding into play.