Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Kathmandu: Hosts Nepal had a disastrous start to their AFC Challenge Cup campaign when they were beaten 2-0 by Palestine at the Dashrath Stadium on Thursday.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the fourth minute when Murad Said shot from edge of the box but Nepal custodian Kiran Chemjong fumbled and Mohammed Mohammed raced to retrieve it from line before cutting back for Fahed Attal for a simple tap in from close range.
The hosts could have equalised in the 26th minute when forward Anil Gurung found Jumanu Rai just outside the area but his shot struck the crossbar before Palestine goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh had to be alert to intercept a threatening 30-yard cross from Nepal defender Rohit Chand four minutes later.
Saleh was again on hand to easily collect Gurung's weak header as Nepal threatened again in the 37th minute before Jumanu was unable to apply the finishing touch while under pressure from the Palestinian keeper as Biraj Maharjan delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank in the dying moments of the first half.
Seven minutes after the restart Attal was set free inside the opposition are but the AFC Challenge Cup's leading scorer was unable to take his personal tally into double figures due to a timely clearance from Nepal captain Sagar Thapa.
The Nepalese defence was caught napping when Alla Atya sent Mohammed free inside the area with only Chemjong to beat, which he did with an ease rolling the ball beyond the reach of the keeper to make it 2-0 to Palestine in the 65th minute.
Nepal had their best chance in the 78th minute when Jumanu received a pass from Santosh Sahukhala and had only Palestine goalkeeper to beat but his shot went straight to Saleh before Sahukhala missed another opportunity with six minutes left to play when he headed Bhola Silwal's free-kick agonisingly wide.