By Sachit Subba • Football • Oct 14, 2025 15:20 PM • 37 views
Hanoi, October 14 — Nepal’s hopes of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup came to an end after suffering a narrow 1–0 defeat to Vietnam in the second leg of the qualifiers on Monday. The loss marked Nepal’s fourth consecutive defeat, officially ending their qualification journey.
Vietnam took an early lead in front of their home crowd, capitalising on a defensive lapse from Nepal in just the 5th minute. Defender Suman Shrestha inadvertently turned the ball into his own net while attempting to clear a corner from Trọng Tài after Nguyễn Hiếu’s header deflected off his foot and crossed the goal line. That own goal proved decisive, giving Vietnam a 1–0 lead heading into halftime.
The hosts continued to dominate possession in the second half, constantly pressing the Nepali defence, but failed to add to their advantage. Nepal, on the other hand, had a golden chance to equalise in the 85th minute when Dinesh Henjan found space inside the box, but his close-range shot sailed over the crossbar.
Vietnam managed to hold firm until the final whistle, securing three valuable points. The match began half an hour late due to heavy rainfall in Hanoi, adding further challenges for both sides. Despite the defeat, the day carried a personal milestone for Nepal’s midfield stalwart Rohit Chand, who made his 100th international appearance for the national team — a proud moment in an otherwise disappointing night. In the reverse fixture earlier, Nepal had fallen 3–1 to Vietnam. This latest loss marks Nepal’s fourth defeat in four meetings against the Southeast Asian side. Nepal had also lost 2–1 to Laos and 2–0 to Malaysia earlier in the campaign, leaving them at the bottom of Group F with zero points. Malaysia lead the group with 12 points, followed by Vietnam on 9, Laos with 3, and Nepal yet to open their account. With the qualifiers now concluded, Nepal’s Asian Cup journey ends in heartbreak — a campaign that exposed defensive frailties but also moments of resilience, as the national side continues its long quest for regional progress.
