Plucky Nepal stun Bangladesh in SAFF Cup

NEW DELHI: Nepal shocked Bangladesh 1-0 in a Group B match in the SAFF Championship at the Nehru Stadium on Sunday.
Skipper Sagar Thapa's 35-yard free-kick swung and beat Bangladesh goalkeeper Sahidul Alam hands down in the last minute of injury time for Nepal's first win over the highest-ranked team in the competition in 17 years.
After their defeat which followed a goalless draw with Pakistan on Friday, Bangladesh, with just one point from two matches, are now left to ponder their fate in the event.
Against the faster Nepalis, Bangladesh found it difficult to win back possession. Even before they could pick a pass, Nepal players chased them down.
"This is what I call fitness. When I joined the team I found the players were lazy. I worked hard to improve their fitness level," said Nepal coach Englishman Graham Roberts
Nepal made good use of the flanks and kept Bangladeshi goalkeeper busy but poor finishing let them down until their skipper's brilliant free-kick helped them return with full points.
Pakistan hold Maldives
In the second match of the day, played under lights, Pakistan held Maldives to a goalless draw. Both teams are now on two points each from two matches but the island nation is placed second behind Nepal because of a better goal difference. The result leaves both Maldives and Pakistan in a must-win situation in their last league game if they are to make the semifinals.