Kathmandu: Meena Deuba and Purnima Rai netted a hat-trick each as Nepal cruised to a commanding 8-0 victory over Bhutan in the SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship on Saturday.

The win lifted Nepal to the top of the standings—provisionally—on goal difference, with 12 points from five matches. However, Bangladesh, who also have 12 points and a game in hand, could reclaim the lead if they defeat Sri Lanka in the late fixture tonight.

Nepal had earlier defeated Bhutan 6-1 in the first-leg encounter at the same venue. Their only loss in the four-team double round-robin format came in a 3-2 defeat to Bangladesh. Nepal had defeated Sri Lanka 7-0 in both games.

Meena opened the floodgates in the very first minute at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in Dhaka, with Nepal netting six goals in a dominant first half. She scored her second in the 12th minute and completed her hat-trick in the 65th, taking her tournament tally to seven goals.

Purnima added to the onslaught with a strike in the 23rd minute, followed by two goals in first-half injury time. She now leads the scoring charts with 10 goals in the tournament.

Samikshya Magar found the net in the 9th minute, while Kusum Khatiwada added another in the 63rd.

The tournament features four South Asian teams—hosts Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. India, Pakistan, and the Maldives opted not to participate.

The team finishing top of the table will be crowned champions. Nepal will face Bangladesh in a crucial rematch on July 29, which is likely to decide the title.