Kathmandu: Nepal opened their third round campaign of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier with a 2-0 defeat against Malaysia at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, on Tuesday. 

In Nepal’s home match ‘played away from home’ citing lack of approval for Dasharath Stadium from FIFA, they conceded in either half. Debutant Hector Hevel and La’Vere Corbin-Ong were on target for the Malaysia side.

Hector put Malaysia on frontfoot in the 29th to put Nepal’s Australian coach Matt Ross under pressure who was leading the teams to the second match following a 1-0 victory over Singapore  in an international friendly on Friday. La’Vere Corbin-Ong doubled the dominant home side’s advantage in the 70th minute with a spectacular finish from a set piece. 

Taking firm control of the match, they kept Nepali defenders and goalkeeper busy throughout the game and stamped their authority over Nepal taking their winning record to six among seven games with one ending on a goalless draw in 2016. 

The win fetched three points for Malaysia in Group ‘F’ that also saw Vietnam pull off a thumping 5-0 victory over Laos. Nepal will play their second match of the Qualifier against Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, on June 10 in the four team group being held under home and away format. The group toppers from all six groups will join 18 other teams for the 2027 Asian Cup.      

In Group ‘C’ matches, South Asian rivals India and Bangladesh played a 0-0 draw in Shillong while Singapore and Hong Kong also settled for a goalless draw. Bhutan and Yeman shared a point each after a goalless draw in Thimphu in Group ‘B.’ In Group ‘A’, the Philippines registered a 4-1 win over the Maldives and Tajikistan edged East Timor 1-0. 

In Group ‘D’ Thailand edged Sri Lanka 1-0 and Turkmenistan saw off Chinese Taipei 2-1 while Myanmar pulled off a 1-0 win over Afghanistan in Group ‘E’.