Nepal started the seventh South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship campaign with a 1-1 draw against the Maldives at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday.

The result meant, all four teams in Group ‘B’ accumulated one point each. Pakistan and Bangladesh have played a goalless draw in the inaugural match earlier.

Sandip Rai headed home in the 51st minute to salvage one point with the four-time finalists Maldives. Sandip headed a Raju Tamang corner leaving the Maldivian goalkeeper Ibrahim a mere spectator. Maldives had taken a first half injury time lead through a superb strike from the man-of-the-match Ali Ashfaq from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Nepal will take on Bangladesh on December 4 before wrapping up their league campaign with a match against Pakistan on December 6. The top two teams from each group will make it to the semi-finals.

Source: The Himalayan Times