Nepal’s women’s football team was eliminated from the group stage of the 19th Asian Games after suffering an 8-0 defeat to Japan on Monday.

The Nepalese side were outclassed by the two-time World Cup champions, who took the lead through Yuzuho Shiokoshi after just three minutes. Japan doubled their advantage through Yuzuki Yamamato ten minutes later, and Mimi Uno added a third in the 27th minute.

Reina Wakisaka and Hakura Osawa scored two goals each in the first half to give Japan a 5-0 lead at the break. Kotono Sakakibara and Maya Hajikata added further goals in the second half to complete the rout.

The defeat was Nepal’s second in a row in Group D, having lost 2-0 to Vietnam in their opening match. They will face Bangladesh in their final group game on Thursday but need help to progress to the knockout stages.

Japan’s Dominance

Japan’s dominance over Nepal was evident throughout the match. The Japanese side had more possession and created more chances, while Nepal struggled to get a foothold in the game.

Japan’s superior fitness and technical ability also played a role in their victory. The Japanese players were able to press Nepal high up the pitch and force them into mistakes.

Nepal’s Learning Curve

Despite the heavy defeat, Nepal’s women’s football team can take some positives from the Asian Games. They have played against two of the best teams in Asia, and the experience will be invaluable for their development.

Nepal’s coach said that he was proud of his team’s performance despite the result.

“We played against a very strong Japanese team today,” Thapa said. “They are a world-class team, and it was difficult for us to compete. But we learned a lot from the experience, and I am proud of my players for giving their all.”

Nepal’s women’s football team is still relatively young and developing, but they have the potential to be a force in Asian football in the future.