UNB, Sylhet :
Nepal made a flying start in the six-nation SAFF U-16 Championship crushing the Maldives by 5-0 goals in the Group B opener at the Sylhet Stadium here on Sunday.
The winning side led the first half by 3-0 goals.
Prezen Tamang and Suman Aryal struck two goals each while Laxman Pariyar netted the other goal for the earthquake-hit Himalayan country.
Laxman put Nepalese team ahead in the very 4th minute by a rebounder when the Maldives goalie failed to clear an opponent attempt (1-0).
Prezen Tamang doubled the Nepalese margin in the 17th minute by a placing shot (2-0).
Suman Aryal netted the 3rd goal for Nepal in the 21st minute by a good header (3-0).
Prezen Tamang scored his 2nd and the 4th goal for Nepal by a spectacular left football in the 12th minute of the 2nd half.
Somen Arial sealed the fate of the match scoring his 2nd and the 5th goal for Nepal by a header in the added time (5-0).
After the match, Nepalese coach Upendra Mann Singh said, “We played a good football today (Monday) according to our plan and we want to maintain it.”
Maldives coach Muhammad Shahid said, “Luck did not favour us. We failed to play according to our ability. Nepal earned the deserving victory playing a tremendous game, but we want to win our next match.”
Earlier on Sunday, defending champions India, riding on a hat-trick by Saurav Meher, got off to a flying start in the SAFF U-16 Championship outplaying Sri Lanka by 5-0 goals in the tournament opener at the Sylhet Stadium.
