Nepal were left frustrated by Timor-Leste on Saturday as Koji Gyotoku’s side kicked off their 2016 AFC Solidarity Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw at Negeri Stadium that keeps both sides’ hopes of a place in the semi-finals alive.
The Nepalese twice hit the woodwork in a dominant second-half display but were unable to find the back of the net against a Timor-Leste side that came into the game off the back of a 4-0 loss against Brunei Darussalam on Wednesday.
Saturday’s result means any outcome other than a heavy defeat against Brunei in their final group game on Tuesday will take Nepal into the last four, with Timor-Leste coach Fabio Joaquim left to hope for a second successive significant win for Brunei.
Timor-Leste made four changes from the team that lost their opening game, with Rufinho Gama suspended after being sent off in the previous match while Adelino Oliveira, Jorge Victor and Silveiro Garcia were omitted.
That meant places in the starting line-up for Henrique Cruz, Nataniel Reis, Jose Lopes and Frangcyatma Kefi and, despite the changes, it was Timor-Leste who started on the front foot, with Cruz twice trying his luck from outside the area in the opening 10 minutes. Neither attempt, however, did much to trouble Nepalese goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Limbu.
In fact, it was the Timor-Leste goalkeeper Fernandes Aderito who was the more active in the opening 45 minutes, the 19-year-old diving to his right to keep out Nawayug Shrestha’s attempt before making a fine double save, first from Anjan Bista and then from Shrestha.
The Nepalese continued to press after the restart and, within two minutes of action resuming, Bista saw his attempt come back off Aderito’s right post as the Timor-Leste defence took time to settle in the second half.
Bikram Lama’s effort soon after ended up on the roof of the goal while Bimal Gharti Magar’s low shot from outside the area skidded safely through to Aderito on the rain-sodden grass as Nepal continued to dominate without claiming the goal their superiority deserved.
Magar blasted high over the bar when he was unmarked in the centre following Sujal Shreshtha’s 63rd minute knockdown before the Nepalese hit the woodwork again, this time seeing Ananta Tamang’s header come off the crossbar following Bista’s inswinging cross from the left.
Substitute Bharat Khawas pulled his shot across the face of goal nine minutes from the end to add to Nepal’s catalogue of misses and Timor-Leste held on to ensure a share of the points.
