By Bootballer Desk • Football • Feb 17, 2025 15:06 PM • 335 views
Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal kicked off its International Women's Championship 2025 campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a relatively weaker Kyrgyzstan on Monday at the Dasharath Stadium, Tripureshwor. A first-half header from attacking midfielder Bimala Chaudhary proved decisive in front of 7,000 passionate home fans.
With this win, Nepal climbs to second place in the four-nation competition, securing three points. Myanmar leads the standings after defeating Lebanon 3-1 in the day's opening fixture.
Match Highlights
Nepal started aggressively, creating the first opportunity in the 6th minute when forward Rekha Poudel saw her shot saved by Kyrgyzstan captain and goalkeeper Dilnura Kizi. The rebound fell to midfielder Sabita Rana Magar, whose weak shot failed to find the net.
The home side found the breakthrough in the 10th minute when Bimala Chaudhary expertly headed a cross into the net from the right side, giving Nepal the early advantage.
Nepal nearly doubled its lead in the 19th minute, but Dilnura denied Bimala's attack free-kick delivery from Preeti Rai. In the 27th minute, Dilnura frustrated Nepal again, stopping a well-placed shot from Preeti Rai following a clever pass from Bimala. Just two minutes later, Dilnura was again in action, controlling a powerful shot from Rekha inside the box.
The woodwork denied Nepal a second goal in injury time. Forward Rashmi Kumari Ghising's long-range strike rattled the crossbar, and Sabita's follow-up effort also struck the bar before Rekha's final attempt missed the target.
Second-Half Struggles
Nepal created fewer chances in the second half but squandered a golden opportunity when Sabita, left unmarked inside the box, failed to hit the target with a low shot.
Nepal's finishing woes continued despite multiple chances, but Bimala Chaudhary's early goal secured a narrow but crucial victory.
With momentum on its side, Nepal now looks ahead to its next fixture, aiming to build on this win and strengthen its position in the tournament.
