Sabitra Bhandari Samba's remarkable display of goalscoring prowess propelled Nepal into the semifinals of the WAFF Women's Championship as she scored five goals in a stunning victory over Iraq on Thursday.
Bhandari's dominance was on full display as she netted four goals in the first half alone, setting the tone for Nepal's commanding performance at Hall Stadium in Jeddah. Her first goal came with a darting run in the 15th minute, followed swiftly by her second in the 16th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error. She completed her hat-trick in the 37th minute, heading in a cross from Puja Rana. Just before half-time, Bhandari secured her fourth goal with a rebound effort after her initial shot was saved by Iraq's goalkeeper Zahra Al-Sadei.
Despite Iraq's improved defensive efforts in the second half, Bhandari remained relentless, adding her fifth goal in the 80th minute from a cross by Preeti Rai. This historic goal marked Bhandari's 50th goal for the national side, solidifying her position as the highest goal scorer in Nepalese football history.
Nepal's victory, coupled with Bhandari's exceptional performance, propelled them to the top of the points table with an emphatic win.
(Photos via WAFF)
