The Nepalese woman footballers are ecstatic after vanquishing hosts Bangladesh in the semifinals of the SAFF Women's Football Championship at the Cox's Bazar Stadium yesterday.Photo: STAR

They were the dreaded duo; they announced on the eve of the second semifinal that they would score; and they did so to end the hosts' interest in the SAFF Women's Football Championship.
Jamuna Gurung and Anu Lama, arguably the most lethal striking duo of women's football in South Asia, shared three goals between them as Nepal defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in the second semifinal at the Cox's Bazaar Stadium yesterday.
Jamuna was satisfied having scored a brace in the match and said it was down to their superior technical skill and stamina that they had this comprehensive win.
“I am very happy to have scored and help Nepal win. Bangladesh played well, but our superior technique helped us win,” said Jamuna who had scored the solitary goal in their previous win against Bangladesh at the SA Games back in February.
The Bangladesh team too conceded that they had lost to a better side, despite playing very good football.
“They have a few quality players, with more experience than us. We played better than we did against India, but unfortunately that wasn't enough,” reflected Bangladesh coach Golam Rabbani Choton.
The 3-0 win for Nepal means the final would be a rematch of India-Nepal final of the SA Games earlier this year, which India won by a 3-1 scoreline. But this time India will be up against a side that have grown from strength to strength, bulldozing their way to the final.
And that devastating form was on show right from the start of the match as they threatened the Bangladesh goal a few times before taking the lead with a Jamuna header on the 16th minute.
It was a fine cross from Lama down the right, which was headed in powerfully by the Nepal captain for her ninth goal of the campaign.
Bangladesh though kept their spirits up, regrouped and stole some possession with neat passing in the midfield. However, the good work in the middle was not enough to pose a serious threat to the Nepal goal.
On the contrary, the hosts could have gone two down, but the crossbar came to the rescue once and later a defender cleared one off the line to keep the deficit within reach.
The second half saw Jamuna and Lama find more space inside the box as Bangladesh tried to press for an equaliser which gave Nepal the opening for a second goal on the 71st minute. Taking advantage of a defensive lapse, Lama drilled the ball straight to the goalkeeper Sabina who made a sprawling save on the first attempt but was helpless on the rebound. With that, Lama's tally in the tournament reached eleven.
Her partner, Jamuna sealed the match five minutes later with her second of the day and 10th of the tournament. Collecting the ball from Dipa Adhiikari, Jamuna sped past a defender, wrongfooted the keeper before putting it calmly into the back of the net to give the Nepalese a richly deserved win.
For Bangladesh it was back to the drawing board, a moment to reflect on their achievement and a reminder that the women's game needs to have a serious approach if they are to challenge for the supremacy in South Asia.