Nepal settled for a 2-2 draw against Bangladesh in an international friendly match played at the Bangabandhu stadium in Dhaka on Thursday.

Nepal took the lead in the 29th minute after a well-timed pass from Sumit Shrestha was converted by Rohit Chand to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.

However, the home side bounced back strongly after the break.

England-based midfielder Hamza Chaudhury scored twice in quick succession — first with an acrobatic strike and then from the penalty spot — to turn the game around for Bangladesh.

Just when Bangladesh seemed headed for victory, Nepal’s defender Ananta Tamang rescued his side with a late equalizer, heading home from a Dinesh Henjan corner.

With this draw, Nepal will now travel to Malaysia to compete in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, though the team has already been eliminated from the qualification race.