Sri Lanka downed injury-hit Chinese Taipei 3-0 to storm into the semi-final of the inaugural AFC Challenge Cup here at the MA Aziz Stadium on Saturday.

Sri Lanka's Mohamed Izzadeen (R) celebrates after scoring against Chinese Taipei during their AFC Challenge Cup quarter-final in Chittagong as his teammate Rohana Dinesh Ruwan Thilaka rush to congratulate him.

Both the teams started cautiously and were engaged in a midfield battle for the first 20 minutes of the game. Sri Lankan defender Mohamed Izzadeen Mohamed Naufer opened their account in the 44th minute when his scorcher from 20 yards found the back of the net. Defender Sanjaya Pradeep Kumara doubled their advantage in the 70th minute. A poor clearance by the Chinese Taipei defenders on a corner from Izzadeen saw the ball reaching Kumara at the edge of the box, whose shot went past rival goalkeeper Kun-Chi Lu.

Substitute Jeewantha Dhammika Ratnayaka sealed the fate of Chinese Taipei in the 90th minute.

Jayasuriya got a chance in the 22nd minute on a pass from Chathura Madurange Weerasingha but his shot went straight into the hands of Kun-Chi Lu while eight minutes later Izzadeen’s weak effort failed to trouble Lu.

An elated Sri Lankan coach Sampath Perera said: “We changed our strategy for this match and played an offensive game. The absence of three key Chinese Taipei players helped in our cause."

“As far as I remember this is the biggest achievement of Sri Lankan football. We were confident ahead of this game and I feel we are capable of making it to the summit clash."

Chinese Taipei’s Japanese coach Toshiaki Imai said his players failed to perform upto the mark. “Sri Lankan team is very strong and our defenders failed to stop their frontline. Their penetration and organisation was better than us," he said.

Sri Lanka will take on the winner of second quarter-final between India and Nepal to be played on April 9. The semi-final will be played on April 12.