Gurung netted all three goals after the interval helping Nepal book its place in the semifinal with two wins in a row and still a match in hand. Earlier, Deepa Adhikari and Anu Lama had scored one each for the team, putting Nepal ahead by 2-0 before the break. [break]
Nepal now occupies top position in the group B points table. Earlier, Nepal had defeated Pakistan 8-0 in its inaugural match. Gurung had netted four goals against Pakistan, all in the first half.
With the fourth international hat-trick on Monday, Gurung also extender her international scoring tally for Nepal to 24 goals, most by any Nepali player.
Anu Lama trails behind Gurung with her 18th international goal against Maldives. "I credit this hat-trick to my teammates," Gurung said after the match, adding, "I had not expected a hat-trick because the opponents came up with totally-defensive strategy. It was possible due to the hard efforts of my teammates."
Maldives resorted to a defensive strategy from the beginning until the final whistle. Maldives could not make a single attack on Nepali post other than getting one corner.
Nepal had to wait until 19th minute to open score after it missed an opportunity as early as in the 5th minute. Adhikari, who came up with brilliant show in the midfield, had set an attractive cross to Gurung just ahead of the goal-line with a diving header, but the skipper failed to connect it.
Nepal´s quest for goal materialized finally in the 19th minute after Pramila Rai´s strike entered the net hitting crossbar in another beautiful cross from Adhikari. Anu lama doubled the scoring in the 35th minute through a header in cross from Rai.
Though the tight marking of Maldives players had barred Gurung from achieving the target, she managed to break the hurdle in the 59th minute in a pass set by Lama. Gurung´s strike from the area stunned Maldives goalie Liza Aminath. Gurung made it 4-0 in the 88th minute with a brilliant display. Gurung calmly chest controlled a pass from Lama and easily slammed home to score her second individual goal.
Gurung completed her hat-trick three minutes later during the stoppage time through penalty. Nepal was awarded the penalty after Dd Safa Ibrahim handed the ball in the area.
After his side´s comprehensive win, Nepal´s coach Kishor KC commented that his side was tactically better. He, however, stressed on the need for better coordination between midfield and forward line up. “There was lack of understanding between midfielder Sajana Rana and Niru Thapa with forward Anu Lama,” KC said.
Maldives coach Ahamad Niyaj said that his team had hoped to just hold Nepal. "There is a huge gap between the level of game of Nepal and that of our team. Nepal is the best team of the tournament. They are good in all departments," Niyaj said, adding, "Our target was only to concede fewer goals. We had no aim of attacking Nepali post."
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