Nepal lost to Iraq

Iraq eked out 1-0 win over hosts Nepal in their opening qualifying match of the AFC U-16 Championship 2018 Malaysia at the Halchowk grounds on Wednesday.

The second half goal from Mohammed Luay Mandalawi decided the game for the defending champions in a game that saw Iraq dominate possession but fail to create clear cut chances.

Nepal were busy defending all the time but were undone by a goalkeeping blunder.

Iraq were denied a goal thanks to a goalline clearance from Nepal defender Sanjib Aryal in the 28th minute.

After a goal-mouth melee, the ball fell nicely to Mohammed Ridha Alghannami, who poked in towards the goal only for Aryal to make a desperate clearance from the goalline.

Iraq kept Nepali custodian Bishal Sunar busy as only three minutes later he made a save off a Hasan Salman Shanan free-kick.

Nepal absorbed waves of attack with half time approaching and somehow managed to go into the break level with the holders of the AFC U-16 Championship.

As both teams struggled to create any meaningful shots on target early in the second half, a blunder from goalkeeper Sunar saw Iraq take the lead in the 68th minute through Salah Ghazitalib.

Seemingly under no threat as a long ball from midfield rolled towards Sunar, the Nepal goalkeeper tried to pull the ball inside the area instead of clearing it, allowing Ghazitalib to rush in to shoot into an empty net.Iraq eked out 1-0 win over hosts Nepal in their opening qualifying match of the AFC U-16 Championship 2018 Malaysia at the Halchowk grounds on Wednesday.

The second half goal from Mohammed Luay Mandalawi decided the game for the defending champions in a game that saw Iraq dominate possession but fail to create clear cut chances.

Nepal were busy defending all the time but were undone by a goalkeeping blunder.

Iraq were denied a goal thanks to a goalline clearance from Nepal defender Sanjib Aryal in the 28th minute.

After a goal-mouth melee, the ball fell nicely to Mohammed Ridha Alghannami, who poked in towards the goal only for Aryal to make a desperate clearance from the goalline.

Iraq kept Nepali custodian Bishal Sunar busy as only three minutes later he made a save off a Hasan Salman Shanan free-kick.

Nepal absorbed waves of attack with half time approaching and somehow managed to go into the break level with the holders of the AFC U-16 Championship.

As both teams struggled to create any meaningful shots on target early in the second half, a blunder from goalkeeper Sunar saw Iraq take the lead in the 68th minute through Salah Ghazitalib.

Seemingly under no threat as a long ball from midfield rolled towards Sunar, the Nepal goalkeeper tried to pull the ball inside the area instead of clearing it, allowing Ghazitalib to rush in to shoot into an empty net.