Nepal vs Philippines Preview – Senior team expect to break duck

FIFA Rank – Philippines – 129, Nepal – 179

Venue – Al Arabi Stadium

Date – 31 October, 2014

Nepal National team take on Philippines after five matches without a single goal and with ample of youths, Nepal look to end the skimpy  streak.

Jack Stefanowski names a mixture of young and experienced squad with Jumanu Rai, Sandip Rai, Sagar Thapa and Bhola Silwal set to guide the youths including Bimal Gharti Magar, Anjan Bista, Ananta Tamang and Dinesh Rajbanshi.

Nepal’s Last Five Matches

Team	FIFA Rank	Result	Score
Afghanistan	134	Lost	0-1
India	159	Lost	0-2
Yemen	178	Lost	0-2
Philippines	129	Lost	0-3
Indonesia	157	Lost	0-2

Philippines’ Last Five Matches

Team	FIFA Rank	Result	Score
Maldives	142	Tie	3-2(ET victory)
Palestine	108	Lost	0-1
Chinese Taipai	188	won	5-1
Myanmar	137	Tie	2-3(ET defeat)
Papua New Guinea	199	won	5-0

Philippines has been involved in recent encounters with South Asian countries and collected two victories in three recent matches against South Asian sides, playing a 1-1 draw against India. Meanwhile their last five matches has involved two victories, two ties and one defeat that came against Palestine.

Nepal lost 3-0 to Philippines when the two teams met back in April in a friendly match, however All Nepal Football Association acting President Lalit Krishna Shrestha believes the story will be different this time with the team training long time together.

“The team has trained for a long time together and we will play for a victory when we meet against Philippines”, Shrestha said during the team’s farewell.

The team has 17 players from the Asian games squad who played regular football with top guns such as Japan, Kuwait and Iraq. Similarly four U16 players could use their experience and enthusiasm back in AFC U16 championship in Thailand. The match will be a good preparation for Nepal in future as the squad names upcoming stars.

Although away from home, Nepal will embrace support from good crowd with all the Nepalese fans in Doha are eagerly waiting for the clash.