By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Apr 11 : Nepal made a poor start at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers after suffering a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Uzbekistan held at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Sunday.

Ropiev Ikhtiyor netted twice while Khusniddin Nishonov, substitute goalkeeper Elmurodov Abbos and substitute Usmonov Akbar netted one goal apiece. Similarly, Mani Kumar Lama scored a consolation goal for Nepal.

After suffering defeat in the first game, Captain Anish Shrestha said the failure to convert the goal cost Nepal the match.
“We have taken the defeat in a positive way. We have created many scoring chances but failed to convert the golden opportunities. We will be improving the mistakes in the upcoming matches and give our best to win.”

Captain Shrestha informed that the remaining matches of the group stage of Nepal would be against easier opponents.

Coach Gaurab Thapa said that Nepal was weak in the first half and made a wonderful comeback in the remaining half.

“Our team, dominated by youth players, failed to get organized in the first half. We changed our plan in the second half and performed very well. We will be adopting different plan against Tajikistan and Afghanistan in the remaining matches of the qualifiers,” Coach Thapa said.

Nishonov put Uzbekistan ahead in the second minute of the kick off whistle. Akbar doubled the tally in the 11th minute and Ikhtiyor made score-line 3-0 for Uzbekistan in the 16th minute.

Lama cut the deficit for Nepal in the 28th minute but Ikhtiyor put Uzbekistan into the comfort zone making a score-line 4-1 in the 32nd minute with his second goal.
The second choice goalie Abbos sealed the match in the 40th minute to give winning side a flying start in the qualifiers.