Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 15, 2019: Uzbekistan women’s national football team won the inaugural Nadezdha Cup defeating Nepal 3-2 in the final at Karakol Central Stadium in Kyrgyzstan last Thursday, September 12.
A brace from Lyudmila Karachik and another goal from Dildora Nozimova gave the Central Asians a 3-0 lead midway through the second half before Nepal’s Sabitra Bhandari, the tournament’s top-scorer with seven goals, struck twice to set up a grandstand finish.
Hosts Kyrgyzstan claimed third place in the four-team tournament beating Tajikistan 2-0.
The result meant Nepal’s wait for maiden international glory continues. Nepal had been using this tournament as build-up for the South Asian Games in Kathmandu and Pokhara in December.