Thiruvananthapuram: In a game of few hits and many misses, Sri Lanka found the only goal deep into extra-time to steal an unlikely win against an inspired Nepal in the opening match of the 11th SAFF Championship in front of virtually empty stands at the Trivandrum International Stadium on Wednesday.
It was Mohamed Rifnas, who scored out of the blue for the Lankans in the 95th minute by poking the ball that fell in his way in front of the Nepal goal.
The solitary goal, however, was no indication of how the preceding 94 minutes had transpired. With their slick passing and players with pace to burn, they exhibited some well engineered moves, but couldn't come up with anything when it came to putting the ball in the net.
In a game that saw a clash of jerseys, Sri Lanka defeated Nepal with a late goal. PTI
The game started in fifth gear as both teams looked to gain an upper hand in the tie. However, confusion soon ensued as both teams soon realised a glaring mistake. Nepal came out in red and Sri Lanka in maroon, causing a bit of a colour clash on the ground. However, nothing was done to ease the eyes and the game continued.
Nepal showed more intent early on in the first half, putting long balls into the penalty box and also keeping most of the possession.
Most of Nepal's attack in the first half came through the left wing where Anjan Bista kept tormenting the Lankan defence. The Nepalese number nine looked dangerous throughout the first forty-five minutes, whizzing down the left flank, slipping in through cracks in Lankan defense and putting dangerous balls in for the captain and number 10 Anil Gurung, who kept making runs into the Lankan penalty box.
Halfway into the first-half, Anjan slalomed past two Lankan defenders, shifted the ball to his right foot and went for the jugular from outside the box. But his shot was blocked by a swarming Sri Lankan defence, putting bodies on the line.
Nepal, confident on the ball pressed without any reservations, playing a really high line with defenders feeding the flanks. At times, the Nepalese goal-keeper Kiran Kumar Limbu was the only one in his own half of the field.
Sri Lanka finally showed some signs of life in the 39th minute when Mohamed Rifnas made a run through the middle, slipping past two Nepalese defenders and finding himself in some space right in front of the penalty box. He, however, didn't pull the trigger and instead chose to put a teammate through on his right but the ball was intercepted.
Sri Lanka seemed as if they were grasping for straws when attacking, putting hopeful balls in, that mostly went sailing into the Nepalese goal-keeper's gloves or into the stands.
Nepal's Rohit Chand, found the ball in front of the box and belted one from distance towards the end of the first half, but only came close to goal frame.
Nepal came out in the second half wearing blue to end the confusion on the ground and picked up where they left off in first-half.
Nepal's most attacks in the second-half came from the right with a change in approach to break the deadlock. The also put in another striker, Nawayug Shrestha early on, hoping to end the drought.
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Sri Lanka got a rare free kick from a dangerous area in the second half, but De Silva shot it high up and the ball fell like an apple into Limbu's hands, much to the Lankans' frustration.
Nepal kept on piling attacks from the right as the match neared its end but their industry went unrewarded. Bimal Magar headed in a cross from the right in one such attack near the game's death, but it lacked any power and was picked up by the keeper.
On the back-foot for the entirety of the much, it was Sri Lanka that emerged on top in the game's dying moments and found that elusive goal, putting Nepal's chance of qualifying for semi-finals into jeopardy. Lankan coach Kolonnage Perera admitted post-match that his team was lucky to come away with a win.
Sri Lanka will now face India on 25 December, in the hosts' opening Group A clash.
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