Sports

Nepal in final in Bangabandhu Gold Cup

Nawayug Shrestha slammed a brilliant hat-trick saw Nepal stormed into the final of Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football tournament beating the Maldives by 4-1 goals in the second semifinal held on Tuesday at the Bangabandhu National Stadium here.They will play the final against the first semifinal winners Bahrain which booked their final berth eliminating Bangladesh by a solitary goal in the first semifinal.The coveted final of the tournament is scheduled to be held on Friday (January 22) at the same venue. Nepal went attack in the 15th minute as midfielder Nawayug Shrestha went past a Maldives defence but his feeble right footer shot went straight to Maldives custodian Faisal Mahamed.Nepal, however, took the deserving lead in the 30th minute through their midfielder Nawayug Shreshtha. Rabin Shrestha sent a through pass to forward Bimol Gharti Magar whose fierce left footer hit the side post and Nawayug placed the ball into the net from near post (1-0).Maldives deprived from a goal in the 44th minute when forward Easa Ismail powerful shot from 20 yards was punched for cost of corner by Nepal custodian Bikesh kuthu.The Himalaya Kingdom doubled their lead in the 53rd minute as Anjan Bista paved the way for Bishal Rai between two Maldives defenders at the middle of the box. Bisha Rai blasted home giving no chance to Maldives goalie Faisal to react (2-0).Nawayug furthern widened the team`s margin scoring the third goal for Nepal in the 62nd minute with a placing shot over the onrushing goalie Faisal from the left side of the box (3-0).Maldives pulled one back in the 75th minute through their forward Nashid Ahmed who scored capitalizing on a through pass of Hasan Naiz (3-1). Nawayug Shrestha completed the tally scoring his hat-trick goal with a placing shot in the injury time of second half (4-1).