Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kathmandu: Nepal’s 15-year old debutant striker Bimal Gharti Magar scored an equaliser in the 92nd minute to seal a point against Pakistan as the 1-1 draw between the sides put Nepal at the top of the Group A table in the ongoing South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2013.
Magar, born in January 1998, stepped in to replace fellow newcomer Tanka Basnet in the 67th minute marking his senior debut and as it looked like Pakistan was hanging on their slender 1-0 lead, scored a goal past impressive Pakistani goalkeeper Yousuf Butt.
Nepal top Group A with four points ahead of second-place India who also managed a 1-1 draw against Bangladesh earlier through captain Sunil Chettri’s stoppage-time goal.
The hosts face regional powerhouse India in the last group stages match on Thursday while Bangladesh and Pakistan meet each other at the Halchowk Stadium in a simultaneous kickoff match with all four sides yet to secure their places in the semi-finals.