KATHMANDU: Nepal's exciting tie-breaker victory over Bhutan has guaranteed them a ticket in the SAFF U-20 Championship final. After a scoreless tie in regulation time at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Nepal emerged victorious 4-1 in the penalty shootout. By stopping three of Bhutan's penalty tries, Jiyarath Sheikh, Nepal's goalie, was instrumental in securing Nepal's passage to the championship game.
During the penalty shootout, Ran Thapa and Avinash Syangtan successfully scored for Nepal, while Bhutan managed only one goal through Jetsen Dorjey. Sheikh's exceptional performance continued as he not only blocked Bhutan's attempts but also scored the decisive fourth penalty, securing the win for Nepal.
Following this victory, Nepal will now have to wait to find out the outcome of the semi-final between Bangladesh and India to choose their opponent in the final. The match versus Bhutan demonstrated Nepal's determination and perseverance, setting up an exciting finish.
