By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 05, 2025 14:45 PM • 100 views
KATHMANDU — In a match where resolve outshone rhythm, Nepal battled to a 0-0 draw against Hong Kong in an international friendly played under the floodlights at the Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday evening.
Anchored by a standout performance from goalkeeper and captain Kiran Chemjong, the visiting side weathered a wave of pressure from their hosts to come away with a hard-earned clean sheet. While the match offered little in terms of attacking flair from Nepal, it underscored the defensive resilience of a team still finding its feet on the international stage.
Chemjong, who has long been a cornerstone of the national side, proved decisive once again — thwarting three clear attempts on goal and keeping Nepal afloat during tense second-half spells.
His first key intervention came late in the opening half, calmly parrying away a long-range effort from Soares Junior in the 42nd minute. But it was after the break that Chemjong truly rose to the occasion. In the 69th minute, he denied Yu Ze Nam's effort from the edge of the area before diving low to block a well-struck free-kick from Fernando Augusto just minutes later.
The set piece, awarded after defender Ananta Tamang brought down Junior on the edge of the box, presented one of Hong Kong's best chances of the night — but Chemjong, once again, stood firm.
Offensively, Nepal offered little threat. Despite maintaining structure and discipline in midfield, the Gorkhalis failed to register any clear-cut chances throughout the 90 minutes. Their lone attacking highlight came in the form of 20-year-old Srijan Raj Gautam, who earned his first senior cap after replacing Anjan Bista in the 82nd minute. However, Nepal's night ended on a nervy note. Substitute Mani Lama was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time, reducing Nepal to 10 men for the closing minutes. Hong Kong, desperate to capitalize, piled on late pressure but was unable to break through. The friendly served as crucial preparation for both sides ahead of the upcoming second round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Hong Kong will next take on regional rivals India in five days, while Nepal is set to face Laos — a matchup that will test head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese's tactical evolution since taking charge. Though goalless, the match offered Nepal something equally important: a platform to build on and a captain whose leadership between the posts continues to inspire.
