Nepal men avenge SAFF Women's Championship defeat

A week after Bangladesh women's team beat their Nepalese counterparts 3-1 to claim a historic maiden SAFF Women's Championship title, Bangladesh men's team suffered a defeat by the same margin against Nepal men's team at the same venue -- Dasarath Rangasala in Kathmandu -- in a FIFA Friendly on Tuesday,

Anjan Bista scored a hattrick as the hosts took a 3-0 lead in the first half against a clueless Bangladesh team, which made three changes to the starting eleven from the 1-0 win against Cambodia last week. Bangladesh made a few changes -- tactical and in personnel -- in the second half and showed more competitiveness. They also scored a goal -- a first for Sajjad Hossain -- while wasting a few good chances.

The defeat will somewhat soil the feel-good factor in Bangladesh football prevailing since the women's success and will also dampen Bangladesh's hopes of moving up from their lowly FIFA ranking of 192.