KATHMANDU: Nepal is under pressure to seal a win in the second match to continue its journey in the next rounds of the ongoing Hero Gold Cup, women's international football tournament, as it is all set to face host India today. The match between Nepal and India is taking place at Odisha-based Kalinga Stadium at 7:00 pm (Nepali time). Nepal has not been able to secure any point so far while India has three. Earlier in its first match, Nepal had lost 3-0 to Myanmar.<doc-sep>Gold Cup 2019: Nepal outshine India to win 2-1 Two early goals by Nepal made it difficult for India to find their way back... Two early goals helped Nepal beat India 2-1 in the fourth match of the 2019 Gold Cup on Monday at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar. A quick-fire brace by Sabitra Bhandari (5', 7') put Nepal in the driver's seat. Ratanbala Devi's (73') brilliant free-kick gave India hope towards the end but the visitors' defence stood firm to prevent a comeback. Myanmar beat Iran 2-0 in the first match of the day and are now top of the table with six points from two matches. India and Nepal have three points each. Head coach Maymol Rocky named an unchanged lineup from her team's 1-0 win against Iran in the opener on Saturday. The match got off to a terrible start for India as Nepal struck early blows, taking full advantage of poor defending and bad goalkeeping. A through-ball by Hira Kumari from the halfway line set striker Sabitra Bhandari free in behind the Indian defence in the fifth minute. Nepal's number nine beat Sweety Davi for pace, got into the box and curled a shot at the goal. Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan got her left hand to the ball but could not prevent it from rolling into the net. The visitors doubled their lead two minutes later. Anju Tamang failed to clear a loose ball inside the box and Manmaya Limbu pounced, taking the ball to the byline before sending it across the face of the goal. Aditi fumbled the cross at the near post, allowing Sabitra to tap the ball into the empty net. India's forays forward were kept in check by their opponents and were forced to resort to aerial balls into the box and set-pieces. In the 20th minute, a long free-kick from the right by Dalima Chhibber was chested down by Anju into the path of Indumatho who blazed her strike over the bar. Chhibber attempted a dipping strike at Anjila Subba's goal but flew inches over the crossbar and landed on the roof of the net. India struggled to create chances in the first half and failed to convert whatever little they could produce in the attacking third. Jabamani Tudu's cross found Anju free in the centre of the box in the 38th minute but the forward shot wide. India had an opportunity to test the goalkeeper soon after the break after Anju Tamang was brought down by Hira Kumari at the edge of the box. The foul was cynical and one for the team as Indumathi's lofted ball had released Anju into space. Indumathi's free-kick bounced back off Nepal's wall. The hosts' best chance of the game was in the 73rd minute when Dangmei's cross from the right found Sandhya Ranganathan in the box. The Nepal goalie pulled off a brilliant one-legged save to keep out the striker's header from close-range and Sanju failed to convert the rebound. A foul on Dalima Chhibber at the edge of the box allowed India a way back into the game. Ratanbala Devi smashed an excellent free-kick into the top right corner of the net to pull a goal back but India could not find an equaliser. India's starting lineup: Aditi Chauhan (GK, C); Dalima Chhibber, Sweety Devi, Ashalata Devi, Jabamani Tudu; Sangita, Indumathi K, Ratanbala Devi; Sanju, Dangmei Grace, Anju Tamang.<doc-sep>Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], Feb 11 (ANI): Indian women’s football team are all set to square off against Nepal in their second match of the ongoing Hero Gold Cup, later today. Anju Tamang’s 48th-minute winner had led India to a perfect start in the competition beating Iran 1-0 in their opening encounter. But for coach Maymol Rocky and her players, it was just another day in office which went right as they were continued their winning spree -- taking the tally to five victories (2 each against Indonesia and Hong Kong). “We play for a win in every match, and against Iran it was no different. We knew this will be a tough match for us. We wanted to start the tournament of a positive note,” AIFF quoted Maymol, as saying. “This is a win for all stakeholders involved, and every Indian. We dug deep and fought our way every minute to get the win,” she added. India could have scored more but were unlucky as Sanju hit the woodwork in the second half, and Anju muffed almost scoring another in the dying embers. Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan made a mere four saves in the entire match and was not stretched even once. “The team performed really well defensively. It was because of the 10 players playing ahead that Aditi was not called into action much. We are aiming for this kind of defensive solidity in each match,” Maymol informed. Defender Sweety Devi said, “Our game plan was to delay their forwards and keep them on the flanks for as long as possible and we were able to do that. There were times when we were stretched at the back and had to rush in.” Meanwhile, the duo of Sanju and Anju gave constant trouble to the Iranian defence, bedazzling and bewildering them with almost every move. “Me and Sanju had our little game plan before the match. We discussed what we will do once the ball gets on the wins. We are room partners as well. So we talk a lot. I believe I complement Sanju in attack, as she complements me,” informed goal scorer Anju Tamang. Coach Maymol further thanked the fans for their support. “It was amazing to see the fans in the stands who chanted and cheered for us. You play for these moments and I am glad we could give the fans a win to cherish.” “We need their constant support as we play for them and represent them. They give us the energy to perform day in and day out,” she added. Nepal had lost 3-0 to Myanmar in their first match but Maymol believes they are no pushovers. “Nepal are a very strong team. We cannot underestimate them. They are really quick on the break and have decent finishing skills. We need to be on the top of our game and aim for a win," Maymol concluded. (ANI)<doc-sep>Sabitra Bhandari struck two early goals as India slumped to a 1-2 defeat against Nepal in their second game of the Hero Gold Cup women’s football tournment at the Kalinga Stadium on Monday. Sabitra (4’, 6’) scored early for Nepal before India found a late consolation goal through Ratanbala Devi (83’) as the home side suffered its first defeat in the four-nation championship. After the second day, Myanmar remained at the top of the table with six points from two games whereas India and Nepal are locked in second place with three points each. Iran are yet to open their account having played an equal number of games. The Nepalese forward Sabitra took only four minutes to score her first goal followed by another two minutes later. The Maymol Rocky-coached side stepped up its game to find the target after conceding two goals. And, Dalima Chibber almost narrowed the margin as her long-range shot missed the net by a few inches. India got another chance in the added minutes of the first half but Anju could rattle only the side-netting. India got two back-to-back chances to breach the Nepalese defence in the 73rd and 74th minute but could not capitalise. In the 83rd minute, India earned a free-kick at the top of the box, owing to a handball by a Nepalese defender. And, Ratanbala converted it to narrow the margin. India will face Myanmar in the final game of the group stage at the same venue on Wednesday.<doc-sep>
Hosts India would look to seal a place in the final of the Hero Gold Cup women's international football tournament when they face Nepal in their second round-robin match in Bhubaneswar on Monday. India began their campaign with a 1-0 win over Iran on Saturday with Anju Tamang finding the net in the 48th minute and a win on Monday would take them to final of the four-team tournament. The win against Iran was India's fifth on the trot after back-to-back victories against both Indonesia and Hong Kong in matches prior to this tournament. "We play for a win in every match, and against Iran, it was no different. We knew this will be a tough match for us. We wanted to start the tournament of a positive note, said, coach Maymol Rocky. India could have scored more but were unlucky as Sanju hit the woodwork in the second half and Anju muffed another golden chance in the dying minutes. "Everyone did their job on the pitch to the fullest. We were confident before the match. I am aware of the potential this team has, and we played to the best of our abilities and stunned one of the best women teams in Asia," the coach said. Nepal had lost 0-3 to Myanmar in their first match on Friday but Maymol said they were no pushovers. "Nepal are a very strong side. We cannot underestimate them. They are really quick on the break and have decent finishing skills. We need to be on the top of our game and aim for a win."