The Blue Tigresses will face host Nepal in the semi-finals of the SAFF Women’s Championship in a repeat of last edition’s clash after they demolished Sri Lanka 6-0 in a completely one-sided affair at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on Thursday to progress as group winners.
Rekha Paudel scored a brace, while Sabitra Bhandari, Sabita Rana Magar, Amisha Karki and Rashmi Kumari Ghising were also on target for Nepal.
Nepali women have reached the semi-finals of the SAFF champions in all seven tournament editions since its inception in 2010.
The outcome gave coach Rajendra Tamang’s team seven points from three matches and helped them top Group A on goal difference.
Earlier, Bhutan mauled the Maldives 13-0—this edition’s biggest victory so far—to progress into the last four.
Deki Lhazom scored five goals, while Pema Choden and Tshering Yanden were at the double for Bhutan. Sonam Choden, Namgyel Dema, Deki Yangdon and Tshering Lhaden also netted for Bhutan.
The result left Nepal needing a victory of at least a six-goal margin to top Bhutan, who had scored a total of 17 goals and conceded one, on goal difference and avoid a clash against defending champions Bangladesh, who on Wednesday outclassed five-time champions India 3-1 to show their intent to win a second straight title after breaking India’s iron grip of the throne last edition.
Nepal has yet to win the SAFF Women’s title despite reaching the final in five of the previous six editions. Nepal is also looking to win its first silverware in the international competition.
First started in 2010, the SAFF Women’s Championship football tournament is in its seventh edition. India, champions in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019, held a monopoly over the regional competition till Bangladesh broke the trend in 2022.
The Indian women’s football team had suffered a 1-0 loss to Nepal in the semi-finals of the last edition and will be looking to overturn their fortunes as they face the tricky test from the ‘Chelis’ in front of a rapturous home crowd as Group B champions and host Nepal will play Group A runners-up and the five-time champions India at 06:30 pm local time at the Dasharath Stadium
In Group A, Defending champions Bangladesh will face Group B runners-up Bhutan in the first semifinal of the seven-nation South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship- 2024 tomorrow (Sunday) at 13:30 local time.