Nepal Secures Top Spot After Late Drama in Malé
Nepal secured a spot in the SAFF U-20 Championship semi-finals as Group A winners on Friday night, quieting the home crowd at the National Football Stadium. Choosing to highlight the match’s crucial moments, this account focuses on Nepal’s resilience: In a tense match where the hosts needed a win, Nepal came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 with the Maldives. This result means Nepal finishes the group stage unbeaten, with seven points from three matches after earlier wins over Bhutan and Sri Lanka. **The Late Surge** The Maldives, backed by home fans, scored in the 15th minute when captain Mohamed Imran netted, fueling hopes for an upset. Nepal struggled to break through the Maldivian defence, which looked poised for a win. But with three minutes left, Subas Bam delivered a precise free-kick that Nishan Raj Lawat converted, silencing the crowd. Nepal pressed until the end and finally broke through the Maldivian defence. That single moment changed the game.  **Group A Dominance** By staying unbeaten, Nepal showed they are the team to beat in the region and finished at the top of the group. This report emphasises overall team dominance as a key editorial angle. Even if Sri Lanka wins their last match against Bhutan, it cannot catch up to Nepal, which has played strongly throughout the tournament. The Maldives are out of the competition with only two points. **Eyes on the Prize** Nepal now heads to the knockout rounds, confident and ready for the challenge ahead.
