Shattered Hopes in Vientiane: Nepal Fall 2-1 to Laos in AFC Asian Cup Qualifier Setback
Kathmandu â Nepal's journey in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers has taken a troubling turn following a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Laos in Vientiane on Tuesday â a result that not only hands the Laotians their first-ever victory over Nepal but also leaves the men in red languishing at the bottom of Group D. Played at the Lao National Stadium under humid Southeast Asian skies, it was the hosts who looked hungrier, sharper, and far more cohesive from the outset. Midfielder Damoth Thongkhamsath set the tone early, firing home the opener in the 13th minute to send the home crowd into a frenzy. If that wasn't enough, striker Peter Phanthavong added insult to injury five minutes into the second half, driving a low, curling effort from outside the box that beat Nepal's seasoned goalkeeper Kiran Chemjong at the near post. Nepal found a lifeline in the 73rd minute when attacking midfielder Manish Dangi â fouled inside the area â stepped up to convert from the spot, trimming the deficit. But the damage had already been done. A spirited but scattered Nepali side failed to mount a meaningful comeback, and the final whistle confirmed one of Nepal's most sobering results in recent memory.  This loss marks Nepal's second consecutive defeat in the qualifiers after a 2-0 reverse against Malaysia in the opening match, putting them in a perilous position heading into October's clash against regional powerhouse Vietnam. Laos, previously bottom of the table on goal difference, now leapfrog Nepal into third. The defeat also snaps an unbeaten run Nepal held over Laos in six previous meetings (3 wins, 3 draws), including a hard-fought 2-1 aggregate victory in the preliminary qualifiers for the joint 2026 FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup, where Dangi was once again the hero. But history counted for little this time around. On a more positive note, Tuesday's fixture saw the international debut of young attacking midfielder Kritisharatna Chunju, who replaced Manish shortly after his goal. The substitution marks a potential new chapter for Nepal, though the road ahead now looks steep. Nepal has been placed in Group D alongside Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam, with only the top team advancing to the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. With four matches remaining, head coach Matt Ross and his squad must regroup, reflect, and, most importantly, respond â starting with Vietnam on October 9. For now, though, the sting of a first-ever loss to Laos will linger â a painful reminder of how quickly momentum can vanish in international football.
