Nepal play 1-1 draw with Malaysia in a friendly match
Nepali national women’s football team and Malaysia played a 1-1 draw in a friendly match at Likas Stadium of Kota Kinabalu on Monday.
After a goalless first half, Dadree Rofinus scored the opening goal for Malaysia in the 64th minute. Sabitra Bhandari levelled the scores in the 67th minute for Nepal.
Malaysia are hosting Nepal for two friendly matches as part of preparation for the 29th Southeast Asian Games slated for August 19-30 in Kuala Lumpur. The second match is scheduled for Wednesday.
Nepal had defeated Malaysia 1-0 in a friendly match played at Anfa Complex grounds in Satdobato at the end of last year.
After the match, Nepal’s head coach Kumar Thapa expressed his satisfaction over the result. “I am quite happy with the result because we came from a goal behind,” said head coach Thapa.
He also said that his players created enough chances adding that his players took time to adjust with the local temperature. “It’s not that we could not create chances. In fact, we were close to scoring thrice in the first half,” said Thapa, “The first 20 minutes was not good for us as we struggled to adjust with the local hot climatic condition.”
Thapa hinted that he will play the same team in the second and final friendly to be played on Wednesday. Thapa also expressed his optimism of players performing better in the next match adding that his players are more confident now after scoring in the Malaysian stadium.
“I am sure we will do well in the second match because the players will get used to the weather by then and their confidence has also grown by scoring an away goal,” Thapa said.
